The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary 317
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre on day 27 of our latest lock down. This morning the neighbourhood is cold with the winter freeze but soon we will experience the death of winter and the birth of spring, but also this morning in Ballinwillin we mourn the death and passing of Joe Mulcahy our neighbour, a legend in the music business and a founding member of the famous Maurice Mulcahy Band. A band that gave huge enjoyment to thousands of people worldwide. This morning our prayers are with his family, friends and neighbours. Now destiny calls Joe to a place of music where his trumpet will sound again for all our spiritual enjoyment, where his heart will always remain generous, all heavenly doors will open to his musical light as you now quietly befriend your death and you have no need to fear. You are among your own orchestra in the big band with your pure white suit you are now equal to your destiny and nearer to Earths heart. Rest in peace Joe. Continue to pray, bless and power healing to all who need it and wear your smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 176
I am sure that some of us say on Monday morning or evening “how am I going to face into another week” and many times this is true but here’s an idea – think of a visit to a museum and what do you find there? The most cherished and valuable items from all over the world and from every age and dating back millions of years.
Good evening everyone and welcome once again to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on another Monday, the beginning of yet another week in our beautiful month of September and day 71 out of lock down. I am sure that some of us say on Monday morning or evening “how am I going to face into another week” and many times this is true but here’s an idea – think of a visit to a museum and what do you find there? The most cherished and valuable items from all over the world and from every age and dating back millions of years. What are these mosaics made of? Mostly broken or damaged items of stone, glass, canvas, all broken into small pieces “but” arranged artistically. So there’s the message for you all on this Monday in September. Next time you feel a little broken, pick up the pieces of your life and think “how might I put them together again in a new and more beautiful way”
Hope you had a lovely day!
Continue to pray, continue to bless each other and send healing to each other and wear your lovely smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 175
So it is Sunday and another day of relative ease and rest to heighten our spiritual awareness which can only be reached in the quietness of our hearts and our souls and to live in the now and the silence away from the world and noise around us. In order for us to be connected to all that is around us, the earth, nature, animals, people, we first need to be connected with ourselves in our own company.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 70 out of lock down. So it is Sunday and another day of relative ease and rest to heighten our spiritual awareness which can only be reached in the quietness of our hearts and our souls and to live in the now and the silence away from the world and noise around us. In order for us to be connected to all that is around us, the earth, nature, animals, people, we first need to be connected with ourselves in our own company. We need to recognise that everyone and every thing is related to everyone and every thing around us because the divine is living in each and every one of us. So for today, on this Sunday, let us absorb the beauty of every one and every thing that is around us because this beauty will pass. Have a lovely, quiet, peaceful and mindful Sunday and live in the now with yourself because to love others you must firstly love yourself and be happy with yourself.
Continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 174
This morning I would like to talk to you about kindness as yesterday I met some very kind and warm people. When people are kind to you , you feel understood and seen. There is no judgement or harshness directed towards you. Kindness is soft and gracious. It requires nothing back for itself and resonates with your soul and heart. Kindness casts a different light, an evening light that has the depth of colour and patience to illuminate what is rich within you.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 69 out of lock down. This morning I would like to talk to you about kindness as yesterday I met some very kind and warm people. When people are kind to you , you feel understood and seen. There is no judgement or harshness directed towards you. Kindness is soft and gracious. It requires nothing back for itself and resonates with your soul and heart. Kindness casts a different light, an evening light that has the depth of colour and patience to illuminate what is rich within you. All human hope is based on the instinct that at the deepest level, intimate. Kindness holds huge sway. What is lovely and important to remember is that something deep in all our hearts and souls depends on the presence of kindness and it can soothe and heal all within our world. So today show kindness to all around you and who you meet. Continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 173
Another meditative morning walk through the fields and on passing all my fallen trees the stinging pain of loss rifted through my mind and body but as I walked onwards I admired all the younger trees and beautiful animals and birds all interacting with each other. It became very clear that nature has immense power, both to nurture life and to destroy life but this morning I felt its vigour is hugging me back to forgiveness for her recent actions.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 68 out of lock down. Another meditative morning walk through the fields and on passing all my fallen trees the stinging pain of loss rifted through my mind and body but as I walked onwards I admired all the younger trees and beautiful animals and birds all interacting with each other. It became very clear that nature has immense power, both to nurture life and to destroy life but this morning I felt its vigour is hugging me back to forgiveness for her recent actions. This morning I could feel the spirituality of nature all around me with its tapestry of faith, compassion and love and it is saying to me that the health of our nation and the wellbeing of our people is measured according to our harmony with nature. The fresh air we breathe in has a penetrating potency and will infuse all believers with the dew of hope. Continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other, be mindful and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 172
Earlier this morning when I was out in the fields I could not help but notice how heavy the dew of the morning was but also how refreshing and fresh it is as I trod through the grass loving my work on nature which was very visible. It is a wonderful and pure time of the morning and a great time to compose oneself for the approaching day and wrap oneself with a warmth and protection.
Good morning everybody and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 67 out of lock down. Earlier this morning when I was out in the fields I could not help but notice how heavy the dew of the morning was but also how refreshing and fresh it is as I trod through the grass loving my work on nature which was very visible. It is a wonderful and pure time of the morning and a great time to compose oneself for the approaching day and wrap oneself with a warmth and protection. The dew refreshes the grass and the flowers during the stillness of the night. We too should wake each morning from our own dew of nightly rest and awaken refreshed, revitalised with a clear mind and relaxed, peaceful soul, mindful of all that is important around you. Continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 171
This morning as I was doing morning meditation in the garden the birds were busy getting their orchestra tuned up. They were all flurrying around and the deer in their curiosity were looking on waiting for the music to begin but the wild boar were not tuning in to the concert, they just wanted their breakfast.
Good morning to you all out there and welcome once again to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 66 out of lock down. This morning as i was doing morning meditation in the garden the birds were busy getting their orchestra tuned up. They were all flurrying around and the deer in theier curiosity were looking on waiting for the music to begin but the wild boar were not tuning in to the concert, they just wanted their breakfast. When you sit and listene and observe to all that is going on around you and in nature you realise such marvels are unfolding, wonders beyond our dreams, all we need to do is accept these wonders with a grateful and joyous spirit and a loving heart to yield abundantly. So for today, tune in to the music of nature all around you and continue to pray for an end to Covid19 and send blessings and healing to each other and wear your beautiful smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 170
Today is the beginning of a new month and my favourite month for many reasons and I will explain why over the coming 30 days. Firstly, I always associate it with the harvest, the fruits of the farm and garden and it always reminds me of my place in harmony with nature and the universe. For the past six months of the Covid19 era I have really enjoyed the garden and farm here at Ballinwillin House. There were times when it was tough, barren, empty and silent and we had 8 days of storms and outrageous damage but now in the calm of September we are sowing seeds of joy again.
Good morning everyone and welcome once again to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 65 out of lock down. Today is the beginning of a new month and my favourite month for many reasons and I will explain why over the coming 30 days. Firstly, I always associate it with the harvest, the fruits of the farm and garden and it always reminds me of my place in harmony with nature and the universe. For the past six months of the Covid19 era I have really enjoyed the garden and farm here at Ballinwillin House. There were times when it was tough, barren, empty and silent and we had 8 days of storms and outrageous damage but now in the calm of September we are sowing seeds of joy again. Seeds of beauty, love, happiness and full of hope and courage. We will learn to grow from this six months experience, we will joy, we will harvest, we will heal mentally and psychologically but we must observe with reverence the inner correctedness between the garden, the harvest and the September of our life and we must join in and be part of the garden of the universe, the creators garden. So today, continue with deep prayer. Send blessings and healing to each other and be bursting with September joy and hope and harvest – it can make the world and wear a September smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 169
Recently all the talk from all the people we meet is “when is all this Covid business going to end” and a very good friend of mine said yesterday that she finds it very sad and very depressing to see all the people wearing masks and referred to Covid as a plague. Now this person in her line of business is meeting and greeting thousands of people every day and is finding it difficult to cope and she asked me to ask everyone out there for an end to this plague and to spread the word. She implored me to pray for this end and to bless and send blessings to each other.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 64 out of lock down. It is the start of another week and the end of another month. Recently all the talk from all the people we meet is “when is all this Covid business going to end” and a very good friend of mine said yesterday that she finds it very sad and very depressing to see all the people wearing masks and referred to Covid as a plague. Now this person in her line of business is meeting and greeting thousands of people every day and is finding it difficult to cope and she asked me to ask everyone out there for an end to this plague and to spread the word. She implored me to pray for this end and to bless and send blessings to each other. She explained that to bless is engraved in our hearts and she said whether we understand it or not matters very little, whether we agree or disagree makes no difference. In our hearts we know it. We are blessed and then called to bless, to say good things, to radiate goodness from the core of our being. I firmly believe of we pray earnestly enough for the end of this plague it will work and we can return to live in harmony with the universe. I would like to thank my great friend for reminding me of this yesterday. Send blessings and healing to each other and return our new world to us as a caring, mindful and peaceful world.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 168
Today I am thinking in particular about my roses. Like us all their life is on hold also as if in sympathy with us over Covid19. I have never seen my roses, all 105 of them, so withdrawn but they have given so much over the years, colour, fragrance, beauty, they just give, give, give. It gives me great personal ease and comfort to rest here and admire this beauty.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on this very pleasant Sunday morning and day 63 out of lock down and as always on a Sunday we rest as much as possible on the Lords day and I always like to spend quite a bit of time in the garden meditating and admiring the beauty that surrounds me. Today I am thinking in particular about my roses. Like us all their life is on hold also as if in sympathy with us over Covid19. I have never seen my roses, all 105 of them, so withdrawn but they have given so much over the years, colour, fragrance, beauty, they just give, give, give. It gives me great personal ease and comfort to rest here and admire this beauty. No one can take this time from me and at this present moment I am living completely in the now and no higher destiny is possible than to live our own lives, be in our own time and take up our own place and smell the roses. So on this beautiful Sunday, let us all take time to smell the roses and continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 167
Earlier in my blogs I referred to how missing our guests at Ballinwillin House and how we were looking forward to having them back and yes they are coming back and this morning we had the usual beautiful experience of chatting with our lovely guests over breakfast.
Good morning everyone and welcome to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 62 out of lock down. It is a lovely, beautiful and fresh morning here on the farm and in the gardens, it is that special autumn crisp freshness and nit was a joy to savour earlier in the fields. Earlier in my blogs I referred to how missing our guests at Ballinwillin House and how we were looking forward to having them back and yes they are coming back and this morning we had the usual beautiful experience of chatting with our lovely guests over breakfast. We were talking about their lives, they about ours and the farm and gardens etc and when they left to go about their staycation I thought about the goodness of these people, their contribution towards our economy, their contribution to life and I could not but be taken and impressed by the vitality and courage towards life, their presence just bestowed softness, gentility and blessings to all around and I say to myself today through these kinds of people we can live our life as a blessing. So for today you out there just blow a little softness, kindness and blessings to all around you and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 166
Yes, we have survived another storm last evening but we live in hope that is may have passed but as always in life things come and go and pass and we then have new beginnings again. Last night before I retired and again this morning the master stags have begun the rut and were roaring all night. Beautiful, expressive and wild and their circle of life is beginning again, it was their time to procreate again, their time to give new life and they were announcing it quite clearly as their powerful roar penetrated the night and morning sky.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 61 out of lock down. Yes, we have survived another storm last evening but we live in hope that is may have passed but as always in life things come and go and pass and we then have new beginnings again. Last night before I retired and again this morning the master stags have begun the rut and were roaring all night. Beautiful, expressive and wild and their circle of life is beginning again, it was their time to procreate again, their time to give new life and they were announcing it quite clearly as their powerful roar penetrated the night and morning sky. They are always content with nature. What can we learn from them? I believe the following – we must be content with what we have, where we live, rejoice in the way things are and in doing so we realise there is nothing lacking and the whole world can belong to us. So today, be content, be happy, be mindful, be prayerful and send blessings and healings to each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
Mother Nature is unleashing all her sadness on us at the present time and this morning she is certainly crying a lot. There are times when people who don’t know about farming would ask us how we keep going in this business and the answer for us is simple – we love what we do and we joy in the idea that we are producing quality organic meats for the health of our consumers.
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 164
I am seeking your help and advice on what I should do with the armchair beauty we have been left with at the entrance. See the pictures on Instagram and between us all we will create beauty and art out of natures upset. But we will persist because we all have the will to create and it is this magic power which can transform and transfigure and transpose and the power and beauty will ultimately be transmitted to all others.
Good morning everyone and welcome once again to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 59 out of lock down. Well, well, we have survived another storm yesterday, Storm Francis, not as much damage as Ellen but still more trees and branches down and strangely enough this time younger trees. I have no idea what is going on but we are going on with the clean-up and will keep going until the farm and garden are back to a beautiful state, not as before but different and that is one of the reasons I am seeking your help and advice on what I should do with the armchair beauty we have been left with at the entrance. See the pictures on Instagram and between us all we will create beauty and art out of natures upset. But we will persist because we all have the will to create and it is this magic power which can transform and transfigure and transpose and the power and beauty will ultimately be transmitted to all others. So from today onwards, help me and advise me on what to do with this sculpture and be part of Mother Nature and feel the freedom. Continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other and thanks to everyone for all the messages and phone calls of love and warmth and healing you have sent to all at Ballinwillin – it really works. Wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 163
Work yesterday we were concentrating on the gardens and we will continue here for the rest of this week. It was bitter sweet work. On one hand you see the destruction and on the other you see the remaining beauty and some plants saying at us “we escaped” and “we are here” and “cheer up”. There is no doubt that the earth and Mother Nature has its own voice and its own way of expressing its unhappiness with our behaviour but by listening to her, the birds, the animals and us all can find our own way home even from far distant places.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 58 out of lock down. Work yesterday we were concentrating on the gardens and we will continue here for the rest of this week. It was bitter sweet work. On one hand you see the destruction and on the other you see the remaining beauty and some plants saying at us “we escaped” and “we are here” and “cheer up”. There is no doubt that the earth and Mother Nature has its own voice and its own way of expressing its unhappiness with our behaviour but by listening to her, the birds, the animals and us all can find our own way home even from far distant places. Nothing hurts more than being ignored and I believe Mother Nature feels that way now and she is expressing her unhappiness in a stormy manner. There are more storms on the way today and for today let us pray for a better relationship between us all and Mother Nature, Mother Earth and continue to send blessings and healings to each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 162
Today I am praying for a new beginning. We are all in need of a new beginning. We have made many sacrifices for the past 162 days so now we need to reawaken our spirit of adventure, hold nothing back and learn to find ease in risk. Soon we will find our new rhythm that our soul senses. We will look into our hearts with eyes off kindness and the reverence promised and may our thoughts shine a bright light towards new beginnings for us all. Please pray for new beginnings so that all our children can in the coming weeks go back to school and nurture and draw on their growth.
Good evening everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 57 out of lock down. It’s Monday and the beginning of another week. Last week was very tough on all here at Ballinwillin. It began with our baby Elayne being hospitalised in Abu Dhabi - now fine thank God. Then storm Ellen that caused havoc and destruction over all our house and land and I can tell you the Mindful Farmer was and is still under a lot of pressure with Covid now beginning to really bite into our business. Today I am praying for a new beginning. We are all in need of a new beginning. We have made many sacrifices for the past 162 days so now we need to reawaken our spirit of adventure, hold nothing back and learn to find ease in risk. Soon we will find our new rhythm that our soul senses. We will look into our hearts with eyes off kindness and the reverence promised and may our thoughts shine a bright light towards new beginnings for us all. Please pray for new beginnings so that all our children can in the coming weeks go back to school and nurture and draw on their growth. Continue to send blessings and healing in their direction and all directions and we must all wear out smile and rest easy after a torrid week
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 161
Sunday is always a special day at Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens and no matter what happens we like to rest as much as possible when the routine daily works are complete and then we do something very important and that is take a little time out for ourselves. It is most important to have a good relationship with ourselves and in doing so it leads onto having a good relationship with others, society and the universe.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 56 out of lock down. Sunday is always a special day at Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens and no matter what happens we like to rest as much as possible when the routine daily works are complete and then we do something very important and that is take a little time out for ourselves. It is most important to have a good relationship with ourselves and in doing so it leads onto having a good relationship with others, society and the universe. When we form these great relationships and then with God we come back to sense of ourselves and of our own beauty and preciousness all growth comes from within, everything flowers from within and that is why it is important firstly to self bless and pray but also to pray for others and bless them and send healing to them. So on this Sunday, nourish yourself and be kind to yourself and wear your lovely smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 160
Today is our third day of clear up after Storm Ellen. It will take a long time for this clean up and then we will assess the entire damage and make a plan for the future, design and layout of the landscape to the farm and gardens. It is early days and too soon to make decisions and the wounds of all must heal.
Good morning everyone and welcome to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 55 of lock down. Today is our third day of clear up after Storm Ellen. It will take a long time for this clean up and then we will assess the entire damage and make a plan for the future, design and layout of the landscape to the farm and gardens. It is early days and too soon to make decisions and the wounds of all must heal. I feel I must withdraw for a while into my own tranquility and loosen from my heart this pain and free myself from this wounded gaze and not allow myself a sense of wilt. I must draw from the deep dignity of nature and try to understand her violent blow. I will take her and her time carefully because I know that there is a time for everything and for healing too. Nature is hurting, I am hurting, our family is hurting and our nation is hurting. We must pray for fresh healing and the grace for a new journey and now if ever is that time. We must continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other and wear that smile no matter where and how the wind blows.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 159
Well things have calmed somewhat from the madness and destruction of yesterday and we are working away clearing the debris and endeavour to open up once again. Sadly we have had to cancel our RetrEats and farm and garden visits until further notice and we will update you when we can open up again
Good morning everyone and welcome to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 54 of lock down. Well things have calmed somewhat from the madness and destruction of yesterday and we are working away clearing the debris and endeavour to open up once again. Sadly we have had to cancel our RetrEats and farm and garden visits until further notice and we will update you when we can open up again. I would like to thank the team at Ballinwillin for their trojan work yesterday and their kindness and support when my heart was so tender and vulnerable but now we must march on again and look out to the future even though many of my trees at Ballinwillin are gone have rich and beautiful memories of them and many beautiful photos of them and I stop and stare for a moment and I think what a huge part they have played over 300 years and their contribution to nature and our environment. For a while this morning I quietly celebrated their life and the best of life is always further on but their memories will always remain behind The Hills of Time. In November we will plan anew. Continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other and be careful out there and wear your lovely smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 158
This morning as we walked the fields checking on fences, trees and animal wellbeing after a torrid night I could not but think of all unrest we have at the moment, Covid controlling our people, storms terrifying our people, all culminating in a state of serious upset for our nation and people, their physical health and mental health. When a storm rages and I as a farmer have to be out there to monitor all the possible problems and damages and we have had many serious storms over the last few years – this was the most severe. I see the world in an entirely different picture. How temporary everything is, how fragile we can be.
Good morning to you and welcome to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on a stormy, wet morning after a ragingly stormy night and day 53 out of lock down. This morning as we walked the fields checking on fences, trees and animal wellbeing after a torrid night I could not but think of all unrest we have at the moment, Covid controlling our people, storms terrifying our people, all culminating in a state of serious upset for our nation and people, their physical health and mental health. When a storm rages and I as a farmer have to be out there to monitor all the possible problems and damages and we have had many serious storms over the last few years – this was the most severe. I see the world in an entirely different picture. How temporary everything is, how fragile we can be. It always opens a window of another dimension and in the eye of the raging storm there is always excitement and I cannot explain it in a specific way but it is surely a glimpse of the divine and powerful energy of God. It also tells me that if we are not happy in our lives and not living in the beauty and peace of the now we will always have disturbances in our soul. We need to pray more for peace and health and calm in our country and continue to send healing to each other and blessings. We are not doing enough. Wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 157
This morning was a very early morning on the farm, long before sunrise. It is always very peaceful and calm at this time of the morning and I find it a very beautiful and calming time. So today I am going to talk with you about calmness. It is a its most majestic when fully engaged amidst all of the tides of trials of life as there are times in our lives when outside forces tend to cause us severe stress.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 52 out of lock down. This morning was a very early morning on the farm, long before sunrise. It is always very peaceful and calm at this time of the morning and I find it a very beautiful and calming time. So today I am going to talk with you about calmness. It is a its most majestic when fully engaged amidst all of the tides of trials of life as there are times in our lives when outside forces tend to cause us severe stress. There are many situations that endeavor to unbalance the equilibrium in our lives to try to change our mood much against our will but we must remain calm and firmly decide not to let them. We must always remain in life's storm and retreat to the breath and the now being mindful and retreat to the fortress of calm. So for today radiate calm all around you with your wonderful smile and take time to pray, bless and send healing to each other.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick