I am happy to announce that my poem, “Ordinary Things,” has been published on Gobblers & Masticadores. I want to thank J RE Crivello and Manuela Timofte for publishing it. Please visit Gobblers and give them your support. Thank you! (I apologize for re-blogging this a few days late. I’ve been overwhelmed with taking care of my husband after his surgery and trying to maintain a normal routine. Thank you for your understanding.)
He fell in love
Watching her do ordinary things:
The wave of her hand, while saying farewell,
Cut him to the core, making him want to stay;
Rolling pie crust on a floured board,
Back and forth, back and forth,
Until the rhythm lulled him into dreamless sleep;
Kneading the dough for fresh-baked bread,
A sensuous massage in his own mind,
Fold over, fold over, and punch;
The way she smelled the towels right out of the dryer
And carefully folded them for the linen closet.
He loved the way the sunlight streaked her hair
In the middle of the day while cutting roses,
And kissed away the drop of blood that clung
To her slender finger after the thorn left it there.
She smiled at him then, and they both knew:
It’s the ordinary things that make love real.
I am pleased and humbled to announce that my poem, “Sonnet to the Moon,” has been published today on Masticadores USA. I want to thank Gabriela Marie Milton and her staff for publishing it. Please visit Masticadores and give them your support. Thanks! Please note that I have to take my husband to physical therapy today and will not be available until later this afternoon. I appreciate your patience. Have a wonderful day!
Anybody watching the U.S. news has seen photos and videos of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Ian in Florida. Millions of people are without power. Gasoline stations have been depleted of gasoline supplies. Grocery stores have been emptied of basic necessities. Residents can’t get back to their homes because of flooded streets and damaged roads. It will take years for the residents of Florida to recover from this horrific storm. The storm is now headed north into South Carolina and North Carolina.
Please pray for the people of Florida and for all other people affected by Hurricane Ian.
God Bless You.
Dawn Pisturino
September 30, 2022
Copyright 2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
When my daughter told me she was going to go to clown school, I thought, Okay, what new adventure is this?Isshe going to join the circus?The rodeo? What’s up with this?
After a few chuckles, she explained to me what clown school is — a school for performing artists to learn the intriguing history of clowns, a variety of new acting skills, and a way to incorporate playfulness and fun into theatrical acting.
The Clown School, located in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California, is one of the top clown schools in America. People from TV and film attend the school in order to further their careers. My daughter, who is a professional singer and performer, has been taking their online classes, and she loves it.
One famous TV clown was Red Skelton, but Lucille Ball was also considered a clown. Her comedy routines, playfulness, and ability to make people love her and laugh, are legendary. I Love Lucy re-runs are still on traditional TV and streaming.
Clowns have been around for thousands of years. In 2400 B.C., Ancient Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty saw priests assuming the role of clowns in order to promote social and religious concepts. Jesters were common in China as early as 300 B.C. They were used in India as interpreters in 100 A.D.
Greek and Roman theater featured clowns and mimes. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance period, fools and jesters entertained members of the public and the royal courts alike. They were often used to promote religious concepts for the Church. In the 14th century, clowns began to appear on tarot cards.
The Aztecs were employing court jesters for entertainment when the Spanish arrived in 1520 A.D. The Commedia del Arte established the tradition of the three Zannis in 16th century Italy, which included the character of Harlequin.
Among Native Americans, clowns were used to make social and religious statements. Their antics made people laugh and think about the message the clowns were trying to deliver.
The first circus clowns were brought to England by Philip Astley in 1768. And Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837), a British entertainer, expanded the role of the clown and earned the title “Father of Modern Clowning.”
I am pleased to announce that my poem, “Coyote,” has been published today on Masticadores USA. I want to thank Gabriela Marie Milton and her staff for publishing it. Please visit Masticadores and give them your support. Thank you!
Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning union or communion. The purpose of practicing yoga is to achieve oneness with the Supreme Universal Spirit.
Yogis view the universe as an emanation of God’s love, and they see His essence in all things. Through the serious practice of yoga, they learn to realize the divine source within themselves, transcend the material world, and become one with the Divine Power.
Yoga encompasses many paths.
Karma Yoga– the path of action – involves attaining enlightenment and unity through selfless service to others without any expectation of reward.
Bhakti Yoga– the emotional path – requires total absorption in a personal deity and is marked by intense love and devotion, and deep prayer and meditation.
The intellectual path is called jnana yoga, which emphasizes the study of sacred scripture and ancient wisdom.
Hatha yoga is concerned with physical self-discipline through the diligent practice of asanas, or postures. This form of yoga has become very popular in the West over the last few decades.
These postures were developed over thousands of years to exercise the muscles, nerves, and glands. They tone the body, increase flexibility, help to eliminate toxins, stimulate the release of hormones, and promote mental, physical, and spiritual balance.
People who consistently practice these postures report greater levels of energy and vitality, lightness of body, mental clarity, and a heightened sense of well-being. With persistence, they develop discipline of both mind and body, deeper spiritual awareness, and a sense of unity with the Divine.
Raja yoga literally means “king yoga” and is considered the supreme path, for it seeks both mental and spiritual discipline. Raja yogis struggle to purify and perfect their minds, bodies, and spirits through constant practice of yogic principles, including all the paths of yoga mentioned above. Yogis who succeed are regarded as saints. They are recognized by their profound love for humanity, their wisdom, their power to relieve suffering, and the feelings of peace and serenity which they bring to others.
~
Dawn Pisturino, RN March 2, 2007; September 26, 2022 Copyright 2007-2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
Meditation has been used for thousands of years to calm the mind and body and to achieve a greater sense of well-being. Researchers who have studied its effects on people with high blood pressure report that meditation reduces oxygen consumption, respiration and heart rates, and blood pressure.
There are many forms of meditation with varying goals. The simplest to practice is mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness means being fully aware of the present moment. It means being completely focused on the task at hand, without any thought about the future or past. This may sound simple, but try it! You will soon discover that your mind is full of “monkey chatter!”
Sit erect with your legs crossed in a comfortable position and your hands on your knees or lying in your lap. Support yourself with pillows, if necessary, or lie down flat with your legs hip-width apart and your arms at your sides with the palms of your hands facing upward.
Close your eyes. Remain quiet for a few moments, relaxing your whole body, and listen to the sounds around you. Gradually focus your attention on your breathing. In-out. In-out. Breathe naturally in-out. In-out.
As you breathe in, allow your abdomen to expand, forcing the air to the bottom of your lungs. As you breathe out, pull your abdomen in, forcing the air to empty completely from your lungs. Stay focused on breathing, and gradually allow your breathing to become slower and longer.
Notice the pause between breaths. Notice the silence. Feel the peace.
It is normal for thoughts to come into your head and distract you. As soon as you realize this is happening, return your attention to your breathing.
Practice this simple meditation for at least fifteen minutes. Then lie quietly for a few minutes. Get up and reward yourself with a hot cup of herbal tea such as chamomile or kava kava. Over time, your meditation practice will naturally become longer.
~
Personal note – I’ve been off WordPress the last few days because I strained my back. I’ve been resting it as much as possible and dosing up with ibuprofen and muscle relaxers. I’m doing better.The autumn equinox was yesterday, and boy, did it feel like autumn!
~
The autumn equinox
brought the first morning dew
sparkling in the sun
like tiny crystals
welcoming a new day
~
Dawn Pisturino, RN
February 6, 2007; September 23, 2022
Published in The Kingman Daily Miner, March 13, 2007.
Copyright 2007-2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
Providing a hearty, healthy, nutritious lunch in a clean, sanitary lunch box or other container for both hubby and the kids was a housewife’s daily duty in the 1950s. The guidelines included the following:
“It should be abundant in amount for a hungry, healthy individual. A little too much is better than too little.”
“It should be chosen with regard to nutritive needs of the individual, and in relation to the whole day’s food.”
“It should be clean, appetizing, wholesome, and attractive.”
Food Selection
Solids and liquids were both included in the lunch plan. Guidelines urged housewives to choose at least one item from each of the following groups:
Milk — in food, such as pudding, or drink.
Bread — whole grain used in sandwiches.
Meat, Cheese, Eggs, or Fish — used in sandwich fillings, salads, or main dishes. Left over meat loaf, pot roast, and other food items were often used in sandwiches in the 1950s.
Fruit — whole or diced in salads or desserts.
Vegetables — used in sandwich fillings, salads, main dishes, or whole. Crisp, raw vegetables preferred.
Surprise – cookies, nuts, raisins, or other special treat.
What Season is it?
~ In winter, include something hot, such as soup, coffee, tea, or hot chocolate in a thermos.
~ In summer, include cool, refreshing items such as lemonade, fruit juice, iced tea, or iced coffee in a thermos.
Tips
*Remember to include utensils, napkins, and straws.*
*Provide spicier, more flavorful food for hubby and milder but flavorful food for the kids.*
*The goal in the 1950s was to keep packed lunches appetizing, varied, and balanced nutritionally.
Menus
Cream of tomato soup
Ham sandwich with mustard and lettuce
Celery sticks and olives
Fresh pear
Cookies
~
Cheese sandwich with ketchup and lettuce
Tossed vegetable salad and dressing
Pickles
Whole orange
Cake
Hot cocoa
~
(The first lunch box set was produced by the Aladdin Company in 1950 and featured Hopalong Cassidy.)
The National School Lunch Act, signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1946, provides school lunches in public schools for a fee or for free. I don’t know nowadays how many kids still bring their lunches to school. I remember kids getting teased when they reached a certain age who still brought their lunches to school. My favorite part of lunch in school was the chocolate milk that came with the cafeteria lunch. And, in high school, we used to sneak off campus and hit the local Taco Bell. Many adults eat in the company cafeteria, if one is provided, or order fast food. But some adults still bring their lunches to work.
~
Information retrieved from The American Woman’s Cook Book, 1952 and the Internet.
Dawn Pisturino
September 19, 2022
Copyright 2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
Hooray for the all-American apple! Boiled, baked, stewed, juiced, fried, dried, or raw, apples are as American as rock-and-roll.
Eating this amazing little fruit is one of the simplest ways to improve and maintain good health at a reasonable cost.
Apples are high in fiber, which is important for eliminating toxins from the body, lowering cholesterol, and regulating blood sugar, appetite, cell growth in the colon lining, and the action of bile acids in the body.
Apples are a great source of antioxidants because they contain vitamin C and a phytonutrient called quercetin. Quercetin is a flavonoid which is currently being researched for its anti-cancer properties, especially against lung and prostate cancer.
There is only about 10 mg of vitamin C in an average apple, but when combined with the quercetin, research has shown that the effects in the body are equivalent to 1500 mg of vitamin C. Now, that’s powerful stuff!
Apples have been proven to have antiviral, antiseptic, and laxative properties, contain a natural sugar called sorbitol, and a wide variety of important vitamins and minerals.
Researchers believe that regular consumption of apples can improve lung function, lower the risks of cancer, heart disease, and stroke, contribute to weight loss, and protect the brain from degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
The Washington Apple Commission recommends eating at least one apple a day in order to reap these benefits.
Cooked apples are easier to digest than raw ones. Apple juice — especially freshly pressed — has almost the same benefits as the whole apple.
Apples are a traditional part of the school lunch box. In the kitchen, apples combine well with other fruits and vegetables.
For free recipes and more information, go to the Washington Apple Commission website at
My short story, “Secret Admirer,” has been published today on Masticadores India. I want to thank Terveen Gill and all of her wonderful staff for publishing it. Please visit them and show them your support. Thanks!
The first day of May had arrived, and the world seemed bursting with flowers – red, yellow, purple, blue, and pink! As Amy walked home from her office job, she breathed in the sweet fragrances that wafted all around her, from the blooming gardens bordering the sidewalk to the flower boxes – alive with living color — adorning the windows of the apartments and houses she passed. The balmy air lifted her up, stirred by sweet breezes rustling the leafy green trees that lined the avenue.
When Amy finally reached home, she was surprised to find a tiny basket of violets hanging from the doorknob. With a squeal of delight, she dropped her purse to the ground and carefully removed the dainty basket. The violets were the deep purple ones she loved so much. She brushed the delicate petals against her cheek, smiling happily. What wonderful person…
Cosmic Health Blog
Entertaining and informative articles about health and wellness, yoga, meditation, nutrition, stress management, exercise and more, written by a licensed Registered Nurse.
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