SheSue Experience

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The 4th of July is here. In the United States we celebrate our nations independence. It is a day when we gather for family BBQ’s and camping trips. And then as dusk falls, we watch huge displays of pyrotechnics. Sometimes patriotic music plays in the background. We oooh and ahhhh. So where do these fireworks come from you ask.

If you don’t get out tomorrow night, here is a display for your viewing pleasure.

Ayurveda is India’s natural health system that has been around for 5,000 years. Through ayurveda, you will learn to prevent disease, bring your body into balance and live a long life. It seems simple, but it is really very complex.

According to vedic science, everything is a living balanced being. We all are based on five elements: earth, wind, fire, air, water and ether. Each of these elements represents a part of our bodies:
Earth – a solid state of matter.

For a great site on ayurveda, check out Holistic Online’s page.

Every year in the tiny town of Cascade Locks, Oregon they hold Sternwheeler Days. Based right in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, summers turn Cascade Locks into a haven for tourists. In the center of town is the Bride of the Gods. Millions of years ago, the bridge was a land mass that crossed the Columbia River. There are Native American legends behind the development and destruction of the bridge. Scientists think it eventually washed away. Today stands a toll bridge linking Oregon to Washington.

Sternwheeler Days had a small carnival with a few kiddie rides, ponies to ride and 20 or so crafters booths and food booths. On Thunder Island, a small island just off the mainland, the “Mountain Men” gathered and set up camp. The Mountain Men are a group of people who love history. They all dress up in period costume, set up tents much like there would be in history and perform their various crafts such as blacksmithing, leather work, woodworking, quilting etc. You can wander among the tents and visit with the people, many working their crafts. On the river, they had a small canon set up which they demonstrated setting off and let you light it.

On a small stage a band played. A bingo game was in constant play. On Saturday morning a parade wound it’s way through town. Along the main street, you could find fresh fish for purchase.

A channel between the mainland and Thunder Island is the site of the original Cascade Locks where ships would pass. Today, about 5 miles west is Bonneville Dam with modern locks. Just outside the locks you can see the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler with the Bridge of the Gods in the background. Did I mention that you can ride on the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler? Isn’t that what the fair is all about. The Sternwheeler offers sightseeing, brunch and dinner cruises on the Columbia River every day from May through October. It is a beautiful way to see the Columbia River Gorge from the river.

Another day of work brings another day of feeling tired. Does fatigue get you down? It could be lack of sleep, it could be the demands of your daily life. Or, it could be the foods you eat. Experts recommend the following foods to help give you a boost of energy:

1. Orange Juice - Not only is orange juice high in vitamin C, it also helps iron to absorb more quickly into the blood. In studies, 1 in 3 people showed low levels of vitamin C. From 2-300 mg per day is enough to fight fatigue. You can easily obtain this much with orange juice plus foods like broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, peppers and strawberries.

If these foods don’t help and you are getting plenty of sleep, a more serious illness may be present. You should seek professional help.

The idea of the Law of Attraction has been around for quite some time. In this book, Abraham, described as a collection of evolved non-physical entities, is channeled through Esther Hicks. The philosophy is pretty simple, but is hard to put into play. The teachings are pretty straight forward without any fancy stuff. It is meant for those interested in self improvement. Those who doubt the actions they take or the actions that happen to them. It is emphasized over and over that it is important to feel good because how we feel attracts more of what we have. If we feel good, good things will come, if we feel bad, bad things will come.

The latter part of the book has homework for you. When you are feeling especially down, there is a written homework assignment to help you pick yourself back up. Not a reader, the book also comes in CD form. I enjoy this version more Since I have listened, I have noticed times when my thoughts carried out to reality. So far little stuff. Now it’s time to work on the big dreams.

If you need a break from the craziness, the Japanese Gardens is just the place to go. Located high in the West hills on over 5 acres, you will find 5 separate garden styles. There is also an authentic Japanese tea house where they offer demonstrations of tea parties; spectacular views, meandering streams, a pavilion where they have events and exhibitions and of course, the gift store.

I went with my sister. We took the guided tour. My sister has recently been to Japan and was impressed at how like Japan the gardens were. In fact, His Excellency Nobuo Matsunago, the former Ambassador of Japan to the Unites States said of the gardens, “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.”

The tour started with the pavilion where we attended the Iris Folding demonstration at a different time. The building has shoji (translucent paper panels) and verandas that denote the integration of house and garden. The Flat Garden is intricately raked sand with 2 island that are supposed to represent a sake cup and a gourd bottle. This signifies pleasure and a wish for your happiness.

The Strolling pond garden is just like it sounds. 2 ponds separated by a Moon Bridge. The lower pond has statues of a tortoise and a crane which are symbols of longevity. The design of this garden told of the wealth of the owner.

The Tea Garden surrounds the tea house. There are actually 2 gardens. The inner garden next to the house and the outer garden where guests wait before entering the tea house. The gardens are meant to be simple just as the inside of the tea house. When you enter the house, you are meant to forget all about the material world around you. This way you will focus on the ceremony. The ceremonies are like a ballet, highly choreographed.

After the tea house, along the path, you come to the Zig Zag Bridge which leads through a pond filled with koi. Above the pond you will find Heavenly Falls, one of several falls through out the gardens. Water falls are a metaphor for the life cycle. The top is birth, the falls are your teenage years, the pond is adulthood and the trickle of water leaving the pond represents your senior years.

The other water falls are part of the Natural Garden. This is my favorite garden. You pass by ponds, waterfalls, bridges, trees, shrubs and rock pathways. From early spring to late in the fall, there is always something in bloom in these well tended, yet natural gardens. The last garden is the Sand and Stone Garden. These type of gardens are always found in front of Buddhist temples. They are attended and appreciated for their simplicity.

There are 5 gardens as Buddhists believe this number to be lucky. You will find no symmetry in the gardens. Each garden is designed with many enclosures. This allows you to focus only on the beauty that currently surrounds you. The trees are kept low as a human element. In each garden you will find stones which are considered the bones or structure of the garden. Plants form a seasonal tapestry and water represents life. The simple materials used represent the physical world.

For more information check out the Japanese Gardens website.