A Wannabe Farmer

My farming days are fun. I love to see the plants blooming but of course my eventual hope is that I would get a nice harvest. I look for every bit of loose soil I can find that I can stick something in the ground. Sometimes I don't always get positive encouragement like when my son said "Mommy, why don't you get a real garden?" If he wasn't a child he would have gotten some tough words for sure. I am just a novice even though I work for the Department of Agriculture. I am not formally trained in farming but I have sat in on some workshops.

I love the concept of growing food because it is raw science and our only means of survival. I have been able to secure my own chive, parsley, sweet thyme and now small leaf thyme. If the tomatoes, butternut squash and other little crops survive, then I should definitely be eating healthier. It is also a joy to share this with my children as they are doing science and it surely helps them.

I am looking forward to share pictures in the near future once the cows don't get out and get rutless and make a mess.

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POEM: To a Friend

I lost a friend
who was more than a friend
who was just like a mother
and who was there when there was no mother around
This friend was jovial
and so cordial
and so full of energy
that she was loved by all who she'd meet
she had a platinum smile
and a golden heart
it warms my soul
when she comes to my thoughts
her encouraging words
and engaging personality
she never let anyone down
or judged them with scrutiny
she opened her home
to one and all
because she hated to see
little children fall
she did not always had it easy
and she worked mighty hard
she was always willing to help others
and she was glad to praise her Lord
while we are trying to gather or feelings
wondering about this hard blow
we'll have to leave it to father Jesus
because he's the only one who
can keep this flow

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POEM: Spherical

I want to be lyrical and spiritual

but sometimes I'm so visual
that it's almost hypocritical
it's not to say that I don't feel special
but time is so crucial
and some days are not so fruitful
cause everything around us is so digital
but yet we are not physical
we're just the typical
gal or guy chilling in a cool locale
like in the islands
or a swinging spot on the mainland
so just take my hand
and let's get into the sand
cause every woman needs her man
and every man needs his woman

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Hobbies & Pets

I sew decently by hand but am leery of a sewing machine. I think I need to get the hang of it again. However, I’ll stick to gardening for the time being. I have to re-establish my green thumb and get everything growing. Then I can venture to other things like sewing and picking back up my embroidery – which I have to relearn.

The other day, I hemmed my daughter’s school skirt and I sewed some darts in it. After all of that work, I burned a hole in the skirt. I then patched it and then burned another hole in the patch. You can be sure that skirt is in the garbage now. Frustrating!

I am hoping that my tomatoes and butternut squash grow. I feel confident in the peas trees except when the cows come and bite off the tops. The next additions to the family will be a goat and a dog. I believe the goat might start acting like a dog too!

By the time the sewing machine comes, the goat will be barking, the dog will be trying to eat the peas tree and the squash will trip the cows.

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Prayer for February 22, 2012

Dear God,

We extend our gratitude for your endless blessing upon us. We praise your name for the sun, the moon, nature, our earth, our people, our agriculture and our culture. We look to you for strength, for peace and for love. We plead the granting of strength so that we can endure life in these times. Lord, we do not pray for financial prosperity but for the wisdom to innovate, make do with little and to survive under meager circumstances. Lord, bless the farmers - the people who feed us and grant them a free spirit so that they can produce bountifully. In your name I pray.

AMEN

New Reggae Music from the BVI: The Foundation by Shine-I

Shine-I released his anticipated debut album, "The Foundation," on January 12, 2012. A massive album release party is set for March 4, 2012 in the BVI.

Darius Semper, known to most people as Shine-I, is an energetic reggae lyricist and recording artist hailing from the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

Shine-I released his debut album, The Foundation, on January 12, 2012. British Virgin Islanders have been buzzing with excitement as they have seen Shine-I perform at poetry readings held by the Callaloo Poets, at Farmers' Week, Artists Against Addiction showcase, BVI Festival and other events. He has also hit the stage in the neighboring US Virgin Islands, building up his performance resume.

The New Album

 His new album comprises fourteen original tracks including a poetic "Intro - The Uprise" which was wirtten by Shine-I's wife Adell and performed by both of them. The mixing was done by Marcus Mark and Lincoln Ward. The local airwaves have been booming with requests to hear songs from The Foundation, including the title track, "The Foundation", "Empress", Bright 'N' Morning Star" and "I'm Sorry".

• "The Foundation": "The Foundation", the title track, is rightly named as it is the second track on the album and gives a rousing introduction to what the rest of the album has to offer. Shine-I's lyrics begin, "If the foundation be moved/ What would the righteous do/ If Jah temple be destroyed/ What would become of the boys and girls."
• "Empress": "She is an empress/ Watch at the way she flex/ Caring with love so endless" begin this song, which expresses respect and adoration for a mighty woman. Another sample of the lyrics is "She is a true Empress/ See how she living/ Straight to her word/ Righteousness she be bringing...." Makisha Gordon, former Calypso Queen, and April Glasgow sing the background vocals on this mellow track which brings a neo-soul fusion to reggae rhythms.
• "Black Love": "Black Love" is a reggae duet sung by Shine-I and Maccabee who is also from the BVI. They sing for the need of wholesome love in the world today. The chorus is simply "Whether it is white, yellow, black love, let the peace fly like a dove/ One thing that the whole world needs from us is love." The two balance the song with their unique voices on a beat produced by Marcus Mark.
• "I'm Sorry": "I'm Sorry" is a soothing reggae song that should soon become a classic. As the track title reveals, this song is an apology for, as Shine-I states, "all the wrong I've (he's) done." In the bridge, he states "I'll cater to you girl for all the days of my life" to show the deep sincerity in the apology.
• "Universal Chant": This is the only song that Shine-I performs solo that was co-written by another lyricist. Adell co-wrote "Universal Chant" which calls for senseless violence to cease. The song starts off with a light drum beat and a soft guitar with the chilling but soft sound of a siren in the background. As the song continues, Shine-I asks for people to live in peace and unity.

Album Release Party
The Foundation was launched in January 2012 but the grand album release party is scheduled for March 4, 2012 at La Piazza, Prospect Reef in Tortola. Artists who will be celebrating and performing with Shine-I include BVI's Maccabee, Ritical, Imo, Capable and Empress Ruth. Regional artists performing include Mada Nile from St. Croix, USVI, Jah Vinci from Jamaica and Infamus from St. Kitts and Nevis. 

Shine-I has put a lot of effort and time into crafting his style and sound. His hard work has paid off with the release of The Foundation. With songs like "I Got It Bad", DreamSnatcher", "P.V." and "The Foundation", this album gives listeners a great balance of reggae music with a BVI flavor.

Simple Lessons

We learn simple lessons everyday. We watch the ants pull as a team to survive. We watch the spiders spin their webs to catch food and safeguard their young. We see how some plants die to give birth to young ones. It's amazing how nature replenishes and balances itself.

We can also learn from the way the sea rolls and the sun shines. Everything has its place and its duty. By the will of God, that will must be done. It is all about balance.

We have to take these simple lessons and apply them to ourselves too. We know that we must eat, must give off waste, must exercise, must pray and the list goes on. Life will never be a perfect day. We have to find ways to keep us in focus while keeping life light - balance.

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