The Art of Decision Making

Life begins at a cycle. In which, this cycle brings out refinement. Often times, this refinement needs fine tuning. That's why we all need to make harmony in unison. It reminds me of a musician playing out his role in life. That's the way everything should be. Even good food needs something to go with the flavor! If you don't have zest in life, then what makes your heart tick? It's that vibration that opposes anything else over a rhythm that's redundant. So pound some effort into anything that requires strength. Like kneading dough. Music can make the time go by fast. So relax into the spirit of the mold. It's your heart's decision though, it may not go as planned. Keep doing it and maybe if you have heart, you can succeed at your best achievement as a human being. Make the goal the post.
You can have hope while others are stuck. This is called sheer will at luck. Also, working at the hand of another is a good sign. It's called leadership and team effort! And it accomplishes a lot more than the one at least. Also, you need a good lover to go to bed and kiss before waking up. It's called the zest and passion for the heart of life! Enjoy and devour that message. That helps with the hand. Also keep in mind that you won't stop. And you'll make the dough for getting the bread.
Sometimes, it's also good not to be thinking you can do it all yourself. Music and food need to be met with the right group. So play right and you may get hit! Stop strumming out, and listen to the music and eat the food of the tree. That's life.

The Baker or the Taker?

According to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, the edition that was published in 1973, ethic is defined as “the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation.” Moral is defined as “of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior; expressing or teaching a concept of right behavior; conforming to a standard of right behavior.”

Ethic is a discipline, whereas Moral is a principle. Discipline is adhering to a pattern of behavior, often resulting from previous education or training. Principle is a standard based on perceived assumptions concerning truths, and predetermined laws and rules.

Although often considered synonyms, there is a notable difference between ethics and morals. People
may consider themselves to be moral, and lack ethics. Ethical people within a society may be considered to be immoral by their fellow citizens. A woman who follows the letter of the law may end up sending a man to prison for thirty years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his children, thus proving herself to be a highly moral person. The unfortunate father, may have an ethical nature in terms of putting his children's needs first; however, he violates the moral law by engaging in the desperate act of stealing food.

Morals depend on socially accepted norms (standards), many of which have been legislated into laws. Oftentimes, these standards are determined by religious zealotry and by political systems bent on controlling the majority of people. A moral code of conduct may even include a list of rules for torturing natives, who have refused to embrace the religious beliefs of their captors.

Ethics depend on acquiring the skills that are necessary in order to make sure that the law is tempered with understanding and mercy. The fundamental concept for adopting an ethical approach within a morally dominated society is the Golden Rule—we seek to be treated well by others: This involves
doing unto others what we would have them do unto us. We adopt the discipline of reciprocity by adhering to behavior that embraces being a good example to others, because we never know when we might end up in a similar situation and need them to respond in our favor.

The Baker or the Taker

I've stolen the bread.
My children are fed.
The baker's in a stew.
What will the townsfolk do?

Hang me?
Jail me?
Starve my children?
Beat my wife?
Let me work for the baker the rest of my life?

SUNFLOWER POWER

It's another hot, humid day in the Ozarks. The front porch is pleasant this morning, although, in another hour this won't be the case. I set my fresh mug of coffee on the cast iron bistro table, and pulled up a chair. More sunflowers are beginning to bloom in front of the house. I hear them murmuring amongst themselves. Or is it merely the gentle breeze caressing every object in its path, causing voice-like vibrations to bounce off my eardrums; convincing me that the messages I'm receiving are meant for me to understand.

"We all know everything gives off a frequency--a vibration specific to a particular thing, whether it be living or considered to be nonliving." It spoke out loud, in an almost unperceivable whisper, then sighed deeply, and--and tisked. "Tisk, tisk.' Letting me know, very subtly, that it disapproved of my very existence.

"All right! That's enough! Plants cannot talk. Sunflowers are plants. You are a sunflower, therefore,
you cannot speak! So shut up!" I stupidly blurted.

"Plants vibrate with frequencies. As each stone has a particular frequency, like the quartz that vibrates inside your watch, every species of plant has its own frequency. Everything in nature vibrates, and you humans must learn to be quiet and listen to what is being taught. You always have your televisions, radios, and computers on. You're always in your cars going v-v-r-room, v-v-r-room, or talking in loud obnoxious voices at each other into those ridiculous mind discombobulating cellphones." She lectured, ignoring my command to keep quiet.

"Wh--who--wh--what are you?" I stuttered.

"Mother Manikiel, your personal plant guru." She offered me her largest leaf, in a gesture reminiscent of a handshake. I carefully clasped it in my outstretched hand, and attempted a delicate leaf-shake.

"I never requested a plant guru!"

"No one ever does."  Mother Manikiel responded. Her lip was starting to curl up in that disapproving sneer again.

"I think the goat milk in my coffee is rancid. I'm poisoned! That's why I'm hallucinating!" I sniffed my lukewarm mug of coffee. It smelled okay. I turned my attention back to Mother Manikiel; however, she was now ignoring me, staring off into the sun. She seemed downright contented. I decided to just let her be.

A honey bee appeared, landing on the tip of the sunflower's nose. She appeared to enjoy its company much more than she did mine.

GRIT EDITION IS NOW ONLINE

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SUNFLOWER SAGA BEGINS

Speaking of sunflowers; this very morning I was outside, sitting on the porch enjoying my small

daily allotment of organic coffee laced with a splash of goat milk, when I noticed another bright
yellow corona shining brilliantly from atop its long, sturdy green stem. It appeared to be trying to gain my full attention—swaying gently to and fro, in spite of the fact that there was no breeze!

I got up to investigate, closely observing the plant's large, craggy floret-face, crowned with a circle
of vibrant yellow rays, peering up at me. She wasn't exactly smiling—her expression was more like
a sneer. It wasn't a disgusting sneer; rather it was a condescending I-am-so-superior-to-you smirk. 

“What are you staring at?” She asked, her upper lip quivering slightly.

Of course, I know that a sunflower can't speak, let alone ask questions. So I continued to gaze into

the creature's frowning face; my mouth agape in wonderment. Why was I hearing voices—uh, one
voice: A plant vocalizing a legitimate, well founded question?

“Oh, I see that you are too stupid to answer. Humans usually are.” She huffed in obvious contempt;
then, sighing, she turned her large round head toward the sun, ignoring me entirely.

I went back to my bistro chair on the front porch, taking a long sip of my warm coffee. The

temperature was ninety degrees in the shade. The heat was definitely getting to me . . . .

“Manikari, Manikiel, you'll see things clearly after while. Flitter, flutter, listen to the words we
utter. Manikiel, Manikari, you'll have wisdom like a fairy.”

The sunflower mantra repeated over and over. I continued to drink from my coffee mug, determined

to pretend that the world around me was exactly the way I perceived it to be.

THE SUNFLOWER KINGDOM

We provide sunflower seeds for the local bird population, and keep a well stocked feeder year round. It's fun to watch the various species as they flit to and fro, snatching a single seed. In this frenzy, many of the seeds end up right below the feeder on the ground, where they get eaten by more birds, and the morning squirrels that come to feed on tree nuts in the early hours after the feral cats are done prowling the neighborhood.

Many of the seeds escape hungry mouths. Each spring, a little garden of tiny sunflower plants emerge to ward off attacks by the nocturnal creatures, such as raccoons, who love crisp, green seedlings sprouting fresh and dewy from the damp, dark soil!

Every two or three years, a good portion of the seedlings make it through the whole ordeal. They grow to adulthood, ruling the front of the house, their golden corona's worn proudly--like the bloomin' royalty, except for the fact that they have earned the privilege. 

Recipe for Sugar, Cinnamon, Spice, Everything Nice

Quite by accident, I invented this yummy whole grain pancake topping just this morning. I had scraped the very last spoonful of bilberry jam from its glass jar, when I noticed the little
half-empty bottle of Ceylon cinnamon on the counter top. Next to it was a large container of organic sugar, and next to that was a bottle of organic, finely ground black seeds. Hmm . . .

Impulsively, I poured about a quarter cup of sugar into the cinnamon spice jar, then added a little less than one teaspoon full of black seed powder. I replaced the cap, then shook everything vigorously until it was perfectly blended before sprinkling a generous portion on my pancake. Wow! What a flavorable combination.

Black seed is a healthy herb with interesting tasting undertones. I'm finding out that it complements a variety of foods --

from hot Mexican dishes, to sweet savory desserts. I am going to add a spoonful of whole black seeds to my black pepper grinder next and discover the subtle results during dinner tonight.