Brummet's Conscious Blog

-- Positive Eco-News -- Several Japanese cities (including Toda & Warabi & Saitama Prefecture) started an innovative project that encourages composting by having local residents bring in their kitchen waste using a designated bucket. The staff then use this material to contribute in their composting efforts - and the final product (humus) is used to produce about 80,000 flower seedlings per year. The residents then come back to pick up their allotted number of free flowers (based on their kitchen waste contributions). This is a fantastic way to divert organics from the landfill, while creating jobs and encouraging gardening  in the city. Greening the city is a big part of being sustainable, and this includes providing foods for the traveling wildlife (birds, pollinators and other beneficial insects). Outdoor gardening can be done in containers virtually anywhere there is room for a potted plant. this could be located beside a gate, or on a patio, window sill, balcony, ro...

-- World Of Writing -- As many of our blog readers are already aware, I love to feature others in the writing/publishing industry to share their insights, offer ways for their peers to make a difference in the world, and give a little glimpse into the behind-the-scenes activities in their world of writing. Today we have Hans and Jen Hartvickson - of Ringtail Learning... their site: MisterLemur.com This husband and wife teem have a sincere desire to entertain and subtly educate children while reminding parents of their own fun childhood reading experiences through their book: Mister Lemur’s Train of Thought. Lillian: What inspired you to write this children’s book? Jen: Hans started writing out of a desire to add more creativity to his life. He has always loved playing with words and finding witty ways to look at things. Part of the fun of writing a children’s book is that it allows you – maybe even forces you – to get back to thinking like a kid. At our age, when you have an ima...

  -- Quote of the Day -- " 'Failure' is simply the opportunity to begin again, This time, more intelligently ." ~ Henry Ford -- Conscious Discussions Talk Radio -- Claudia Ricci is an energetic woman who loves to write and share information with others. She has two online books, two novels and a happiness class that she is balancing in her life right now. Our topic on today's Conscious Discussions Talk Radio show will be Writing & Happiness - Valuable Life Skills . Tune in live at 10-11 AM (pacific) where I'll have a live chat  room open for you as well, or listen to the archived discussion later on at your convenience ...Just click on the hyper-linked title (above) or look to the side-bars on this blog. -- Referral Corner --  I'm a big fan of Whisper Poetry ; Stan and Giselle are enthusiastic supporters of poetry and literacy in Africa, where they reside. Their organization has several poetry anthologies available, a publication and a fa...

-- Quote of the Day --  " Don't try to be perfect;  Just be an excellent example Of being human ." ~ Anthony Robbins  -- Brummets In the Media -- Please join me later today on: The Carolyn Denise Show -  6:15 (Eastern) / 3:15 PM (Pacific)  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/carolyndenise Carolyn and I will be speaking with her audience re: how we as authors can make a difference, and the incredible power of the individual to spark positive change in the world - and how to make your book stand out in a snowstorm of other published books. I'm really looking forward to this discussion and hope that you will join us there. I'm not sure if Carolyn will have a chat room open as well, but if she does, I'll be in there as well :) -- Conscious Living Tip -- One way that we can increase the awareness, the conscious awareness of the things we do in this life is to learn how to refrain from taking things personally... take the ego out of the picture and see what happ...

-- Quote of the Day --  “ Healing gardens in hospital (situations) has become a passion for me, but so is my own garden. When I am tired or don’t want to work on the computer I’ll think ‘oh, I’ll just go outside in the garden and see what there is to do’ …and you go out to do one thing, and then you see something else, and then something else and before you know it a moment has turned into a half hour! – but you just come back so refreshed. …As a child we had been evacuated (due to the war) …and I found solace in nature – climbing trees and exploring – but also I was taught to garden and from the age of 8 on I was growing vegetables for the family. …I found gardening was something I could do to help, and this set me up for a lifetime of loving gardening .”  ~ Clare Marcus Today's quote originates from the Nature’s Healing Power interview that aired back on Nov 30 on the Conscious Discussions Talk Radio show. Access the archive via the hyper-linked show title (abo...

-- Quote of the Day --  " You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand."    ~ Woodrow Wilson -- World of Writing --  Joining us today as our featured guest on the Brummet’s Conscious Blog is Carolyn Moncel, author of Encounters in Paris – A Collection of Short Stories . Her next collection of short stories, 5 Reasons to Leave a Lover will debut this fall . A virtual media and web consultant by day and author by night, Carolyn once lived in Paris for five years and now resides in Lausanne, Switzerland with her family. Visit her website @   www.carolynmoncel.com Q: Carolyn, what are your thoughts on the creation of good story?   The stories that I hated the most as a child were fairy tales because they always had predictable happ...

 -- Quote of the Day -- " The act of philanthropy is a spiritual act, an expression of caring for one's fellow human beings. It is a belief in the future and that the future can be good. It is investing in that future. It is helping to make the dream come true ." ~ Arthur Frantzreb -- Positive Living -- Conscious living can begin with something as small as watching the wording we are using when talking to ourselves or speaking to others. Avoiding critical, negative thinking patterns and gossip will go a long way in this goal. Using our voices, the fact that we have the ability to speak, to make the world a better place. Giving others strength, comfort, support or expressing joy of their existence... this is the power we have just by using our mouths. Think back in your life at some of the most hurtful things you've experienced - I'll bet you'll think of cruel teasing in school or someone who tore you down for a moment with something they said. Their voic...