When man and beast and nature were one, the world was being cared for.

Today man has replaced the beasts he lived with, worked with, and loved, and which loved him, with machines and avarice and nature is the worst for it.

There is endless wonder and love available to all who would become good shepherds to this world’s pastures on land and at sea. Join me before you find it is too late.

Don’t let the hard times rule your mind.

I often find inspiration in music that reaches me not through my analytical brain but through my heart and soul. It could be that this is because I was born into the Age of Aquarius, I like to think that is part of it but also I was born into a family where my parents simply loved nature. Now some nearly 70 years into this life, my life as a practicing love, eco-restoration, and caring for nature, I am finding the love never ends. And with that love of nature comes a need to give back to nature in part of every breath I take.

Click any of the following image clips to read my blogs on how I am working to be a good shepherd to this blue planet.

The music that tugged at my heart strings last night with the cat in my lap is about such love in nature.

Gillian Welch is the singer/songwriter of the song “Hard Times” and in my heart I know her muse and mine are one and the same. She sings a story about love and nature and in her words are a common wisdom that all of nature holds dear.

Hard Times

There was a camp town man, used to plow and sing
And he loved that mule and the mule loved him
When the day got long as it does about now
I’d hear him singing to his muley-cow Calling,

“Come on my sweet old girl,
and I’d bet the whole damn world
We’re gonna make it yet to the end of the row”

Singing “Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind
Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind,
Bessie Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind no more”

Said it’s a mean old world, heavy in need
That big machine is just picking up speed
They were supping on tears, they were supping on wine
We all get to heaven in our own sweet time

So come all you Asheville boys and turn up your old-time noise
And kick ’til the dust comes up from the cracks in the floor
Singing, “Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind, brother
Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind
Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind no more”

But the camp town man, he doesn’t plow no more
I seen him walking down to the cigarette store
Guess he lost that knack and he forgot that song
Woke up one morning and the mule was gone

So come on, you ragtime kings, and come on, you dogs, and sing
And pick up the dusty old horn and give it a blow
Playing, “Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind, honey
Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind, sugar
Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind no more”

Listen to Gillian Welch as you read more on my blog about how there is real hope for restoration of our world of nature and wonder and love.