You know how I love to lay back in the grass and watch the clouds go by. Today I found a really cool webpage that has collected several pictures of unusual and interesting cloud forms, including a shape known as the "UFO" or "Unidentified Flying Object" form. There's even a video of that one!
Guess what else I found out? If you lie down in the grass and look at the sky sideways (by turning your head to one side and looking at the sky), it looks flat! Perhaps Chicken Little thought the sky was falling because of that phenomenon - she should have seen these pictures.
On my long wandering walk today, I saw succulent ice plants growing all along a hill, some bearing purple blooms with long, skinny petals forming a narrow cup shape. Of course, these plants also bear white, yellow and pink flowers, too. They tend to grow in warmer climates, so disregard the name; I've also noticed they are often planted along freeways and near the ocean. Ice plants make for a lovely, dense growth that is nigh impossible to walk through, so if I ever live in a house on a hill, I'd plant those along the border so that it would be undisturbed!
I also saw some friendly monarch butterflies, with their rich golden-orange tones rimmed in black - almost like a stained-glass window. I am blessed to live in a place where I can see them at the very least once a week, and at most every day! There is something calming and refreshing about seeing butterflies, swooping and soaring about in the air, fluttering around and drinking the nectar of their favorite flowers. Their grace is fascinating.
Along the river, there is a horse ranch, the B&B. On my walk home, I watched the great brown beauties canter about and flick their tails in the sunshine. In the morning, it had been cloudy and misty, but by early afternoon the sun was peeking out for all to enjoy. Someday, I'd like to ride a horse again. They seem like such deep, compassionate, noble creatures.
Well, I also spent some time with humans today. During a side-trip to the mall, I encountered an old friend from high school and we exchanged greetings while testing out the fancy-looking couches in a seating area. Since when did they install marble table-tops and shiny upholstery? Later, I wandered down to the Macy's store and was about to attempt a window-shopping walkthrough when I was hailed by the counter attendant of Origins. Not knowing anything of the brand, I allowed the lady to introduce the concept, the products, and listened to her personal testimony. I took to her right away: young, pretty and passionate about her work. Well, I was more impressed by her passion and the company's philosophy.
For those of you who don't know, Origins is a skincare label, priding themselves on natural ingredients and formulas free of harmful chemicals. They also carry a cosmetics line, including colors. I wasn't interested in the makeup, however - perhaps another day. I was interested in the natural ingredients, predominantly white tea and ginger, which are revitalizing, cleansing and purifying. The whole point behind Origins, the attendant explained, is to protect the skin against sun damage and aging - and when damage has occurred, to try to heal and recover skin tone. I was able to test two products: a mangosteen-infused moisturizer that changes color to match skin tone (pretty fun to watch), and another moisturizer with antioxidant white tea base. Both were oil-free, went on smoothly and had refreshing, natural scents. I've always been a sucker for botany, though I haven't studied it formally, so the ingredient lists were intriguing!
When I got home, I did a little web research and discovered that Origins is not only committed to using natural ingredients, but also invested in eco-friendly processes and planting trees to improve global ecology. Sustainability is pretty cool, and this is one business that impresses me with their green practices and mission of botanical skin care. It may not be cheap, but I have no doubt that the products are worth the price tag.
All of this is fascinating and makes a person glad to be alive. Don't you agree? Life is just too short to die.
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