Widow's Endorphins: Freesias, 'Cause We're Freezin'

Widow's Endorphins: Freesias, 'Cause We're Freezin': Snowmageddon.  Ice Tsunami.  Winds of up to 110km (70 miles) an hour.  Seventy vehicle pileups North of Toronto, and the US National...

Freesias, 'Cause We're Freezin'

Snowmageddon.  Ice Tsunami.  Winds of up to 110km (70 miles) an hour.  Seventy vehicle pileups North of Toronto, and the US National Guard rescuing 600 stranded motorists in South Minnesota.  We live with these headlines...because it's Winter. 

Snowmageddon is one mother of a snowstorm, dumping waist deep snow on your doorstep in one wild day...and then, another one, and another one!  In high winds, an ice tsunami moves blocks of ice off lakes and rivers, piling the ice up on the shoreline, to form a towering wall. 

Those who've been brave enough to venture out in the February deep freeze, have discovered brightly coloured freesias popping up in florist shops, and grocery stores.  Spring is not far away!

In Africa, where freesias grow from South Sudan, through Kenya into South Africa, the landscape is painted with bright yellow, orange, red, pink, lavender, cream and white freesia flowers.  Discovered in 1830 in the Cape Colony of South Africa, freesias are called Cape Lily of the Valley.  The plant is named after Dr. Friedrich Heinrich Theodor Freese, a medical doctor with a passion for botany. 

Grown predominantly in the Netherlands, freesias are most popular in Holland, Germany, Belgium, and Scandanavia.  A flower which is at once both innocent and sophisticated, freesias look great in a fresh Spring arrangement, or a classic white bridal bouquet.  Florists love working with these versatile, long stemmed flowers.  The crocus-shaped blossoms have cascading buds resembling grape clusters.  They snuggle in with roses, tulips, and ranunculus.  

   

Perfumers say that freesias are high in linalool, which emits "a fresh, woody scent with subtle citrusy-terpenic notes."  Although the word "peppery" is frequently used, I would describe freesias as having a lemony vanilla fragrance.  All too often, freesias - with the exception of the yellow ones - have no scent at all. 

A store bought bouquet of Freesias may only last a week, while Canadian Winters take an eternity...except this year!  The latest prognostication is for an early Spring, and a warmer than usual April.  That's cause for celebration...and a bouquet of freesias!   

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: A Valentine

Widow's Endorphins: A Valentine: Cupid's arrow rarely travels a straight path.  Enjoy every plot twist!  Happy Valentine's Day! xx Photograph Copyrig...

A Valentine

Cupid's arrow rarely travels a straight path.  Enjoy every plot twist!  Happy Valentine's Day! xx

Photograph Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: Year of the Pig: Who's Gonna Bring Home the Bacon?...

Widow's Endorphins: Year of the Pig: Who's Gonna Bring Home the Bacon?...: It's Pig Earth Year in the Chinese astrological calendar, and some will be happier than a pig in mud!  The Chinese zodiac has twel...

Year of the Pig: Who's Gonna Bring Home the Bacon?

It's Pig Earth Year in the Chinese astrological calendar, and some will be happier than a pig in mud!  The Chinese zodiac has twelve astrological animal signs, the pig being the last.  There are also five elements, water, wood, fire, earth and metal.  It takes sixty years to go through all twelve signs, and five elements.  The last pig earth year was 1959, and the next one will be 2079.

Over and over, the word "calm" is used to describe those born under the sign of the pig.  They are thought to be the "Mother Teresa's of the Chinese zodiac":  humanitarian, generous, kind, and selfless.  Add in the attributes of those born in an earth year - thoughtful, practical, dependable, and trustworthy - and you have a "salt of the earth" kind of person.

Pig people love social events with family and friends. They can also be hedonistic party animals.  There may not be an app for that, however, the gemstone opal is said to guard against addiction.  Did you notice the number of opal images showing up on your Facebook newsfeed in the days leading up to Chinese New Year?  As investors, pigs are said to be gullible, and may be easily cheated.  They are also said to spend everything they make.

You know the game of rock, paper, scissors?  The elements work in much the same way, with fire dominating metal, earth dominating water, metal dominating wood, water dominating fire, and wood conquering earth.  Since wood dominates earth, the wood element industries (paper, publishing, education, the environment, media and fashion) are prosperous in an earth year.  Also in an earth year, earth industries such as property, mining, even computer software (how do they figure all this out?) will do well.  Water industries, such as shipping and transport may be sink or swim.

Being an earth year, it is a good time to invest in realestate and construction.  It is also a good time to "lay the foundations" for the future.  Think of seeds that are planted in the earth now, to grow for the future. 

Chinese astrology is complex.  It's not like reading a fortune cookie!  Although this is an earth year, the pig's natural element is water.  Muddy!  Although this is a great year for investments, water symbolizes fear, and danger lurking beneath the surface.  Optimism makes the market climb.  Fear, can halt economic investment and growth.  Predictions are, that it will be 2025, before another fire year fires up the market.

Those of us born in the Nobelman years of 1956, '57, '66, '67 - or any year ending in a six or a seven - are seen as "angels from Heaven", during a pig year.  We are the rescuers, supporters, solution finders and comforters, who can save your bacon!  It is also safe for those born in those years to go ahead and develop new projects!

Who will bring home the bacon in this pig year?  Astrologers say it will be an interesting year... 

Rats:  a year of prosperity
Ox:  hard work and patience will ensure success
Tiger:  a year of limited resources, and budgeting
Rabbit:  a positive year
Dragon:  business will excel
Snake:  from March until June money will show up whenever it's needed
Horse:  success and accomplishments in the beginning of the year
Goat:  focus on what you know best

Monkey:  great profits, great job opportunities, send your resume everywhere
Rooster:  major career changes, including possible relocation
Dog:  risk of going into debt
Pig:  financial prospects are favourable

Wishing you great health, peace, prosperity and pure joy!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.