Like a Prayer

 

LINK                   Harry Owen

A month's worth of lunchtimes, a month of color drawing...of doodles or wandering thoughts.

Each addition, a stretch of the imagination, a time to practice...to create.

Upon pulling into the parking area at the Railroad Bridge, I thought: It's like a prayer. I'm not sure what I meant by that, as I am not a very prayerful person. But, I considered how this habit of mine, of going to the Bridge each week...this ritual, had elements of being scared. I think that's what I was feeling. I'm grateful for each trip I make and each discovery I make.

Today's visit started with the lesson of you can't always see what's there. The Bottle Brush plants at the parking area were positively filled with bees, yet I knew the photo wouldn't show that. The dry brush was chalk full of...something, yet I could not see it whatsoever. I stood listening and looking for the longest time. My guesses were a snake, a lizard or a bird, as these seemed most likely. However, I will never know because I never did see anything, even if I knew something was there! 

Today I really noticed the marshy look to the riverbed and the stars dancing on the water and the beautiful patterns on the wet soil. I notice what J. said was iron (the blackness) in the sandy riverbed. Last week it looked like tracks of some sort...how things change.

I was mesmerized...

Do you see the face in there? On the left side, just above the wire...

There were many bicycle riders today. It was a lovely 75 degrees! I stood on the bridge for a long while feeling the vibrations of their passing. 

A love story that I'd never seen or noticed jumped out at me today (like the bridge hole of last week).

Tomorrow there will be a bike race/run event out here. The path was already marked.

Some markings are always there! Heehee Looks like me, eh?!

Saturday me, feeling good in "place".

This Saturday ritual is good. Good for me. Maybe not exercise wise because I can meander and stand there forever...looking, discovering...head tipped back or down, finding bits.

Today the big power lines were marching. I did some research and as of now, think the bottom pic may be of a surveyor's mark.

I spied another curious thing...

Two poles with what looked to be a nest on the top of each one. This spoke of a birds nest to me, but I couldn't come up with the "why" of the grasses coming out of a hole lower down on the pole. I didn't feel comfortable getting to close, so I let my camera do the work. The trailside soil nearby was covering in 100's or more of teeny, tiny little insects and I was not sure if they bit...or if there was an animal 'home' in these nests. Perhaps next time I'll learn more.

Back home again...the curious continued...an old photograph now stands in front of the books in the lobby. Why? Perhaps one resident found it in a book and left it there for the rightful owner? So far this week, no one has claimed it. In the 'mailroom', there is a "free pantry". It was added some months ago so residents could share pantry items (that they do not want) with their neighbors. There's usually beans in there. I guess folks change their minds about beans a lot. Recently, folks have started leaving everything and anything...'gently used' shoes, slippers, puzzles, knick-knacks, clothing, frames...you name it. Most of it lasts only a day or so before someone claims the new found treasure. Today there was a beautiful, perfectly shaped pinecone. A pinecone. I had trouble thinking of a reason for this one. But, as I type now, I think that maybe it was an offering for a crafter?! Maybe? A little decorated Christmas Tree? Who knows!!

LINK

"Be the change you want to see in the world"

May you believe, whether you can see or not

May you remain curious and imagine

May you drink deeply from the well of life

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2023

Offerings

 

I wore my necklace all week. I usually don't wear anything as the littles grab and pull more than is comfortable for me. However, this felt necessary. Only one person asked about it. One.

In case you are not familiar (I'm sure most of you are), you can learn more HERE or HERE...or do your own searches (if you want). There is so much information out there and many images (not all this original).

Anyway, it felt like something to do, that I could do in the moment. I sent the one person the first link above. Did it educate, expand thinking, inspire anything??? I don't know.

Monday, upon arriving for work a bit early, I sat in my car and made an embroidery floss prayer. Blue and white - and - red, green, black and white, the colors of the flags. I knotted and braided in counts of 10 to symbolize the decades, a too long period of time of hatred and unrest and more. I began with each country's flag colors separate, on their own - knotted and braided in 10's. By the end I had braided and knotted all of the colors together, the white being the only common colored thread they shared. I put it on my purse (which is new and has zippered areas that are hard to tell apart. I have no patience for that! Which one is my phone? My keys? My wallet? My camera? Now I know at least one of them!). But much more important than that, it is a daily reminder of what others are living through, of how truly bad things can get, of how our actions have impacts...of how humanity should rise above everything else. It is a reminder to be kind to all.

As I write, this comes on. A perfect example of how I have been feeling. These poor babies. These poor mamas.

LINK

I sat each day in my car, drawing and then coloring in those drawings. I feel like I'm not so good at this, that I lack "ideas of things to draw", but so far, if I am quiet something comes to me. The brick planter box surprised me and the bottom row of circles is still in process. I wonder what ideas will come to me next week? NOTE: I made a black and white 9 patch circle while thinking of Jude. The 2 areas of earthy colored "stones" were inspired by a trip many years back to San Diego's Balboa Park, Spanish Village Art Center, although those were painted in bright colors. I mixed memories with my own plans and pencils on hand, in using more earthy colors. The spirals next to that, brown for tree rings. The rest...doodles. This new activity has been a firm place to stand (sit) in an uncertain time. It is soothing and inspiring. For whatever reason, I've gotten stalled in the book I bought (suggested by Grace), but I know it will wait for me. For now, this is working.

At the Railroad Bridge today there were thoughts about appearing and disappearing...thoughts (yes, again) about noticing. How we see. What we notice. How we move through place.

I had yet to notice that one of the knot holes on the bridge is punched out and you can try to look clear through. I noticed today. I alway marvel in how dry this wood is. There has been one plank replaced (fairly recently?), the rest are old. The lines, the broken places, the extra texture to the wood feels seriously familiar!

The water seem much lower in places. There was the big patch of sandy river bottom (above). I wondered about the apparent 'tracks' in the sand.

The river photo above with its little dome topped tin structure...what is that thing? J. says it is to measure the water...anyway, I took it with the title of "How it really is" in mind. In other words, I took it without planning the framing of the shot (one of my favorite things to do). I took it as my eye just truly sees this area. I photographed and did not crop out pipes, supporting wires, metal posts and the cement outcropping platform (where the bicycle couple sat weeks ago).  What a different scene this mindset created.

The photo right above was inspired by the dead tree, front, center. But in loading the photos in my computer, I notice the other bare tree behind it. It is still very green here, which delights me each week.

It was bright and sunny again. Hot. Of course. Standing still on the bridge and feeling the air, watching the flow of the river has become a new part of this Railroad Bridge weekly tradition.

The other newer tradition is photographing the bridge from a variety of angles, spots on the trail. It fascinates me and I try to imagine a grid of these photos, so I could see them all at once. Wouldn't that be fun?! Who was that reader here in our cloth world that used to do that all the time? Darn, I can't recall...but I remember how much I adored them.

I stood on the path today watching a Hawk Circling. Round and round and round...

Soaring, swooping, tilting above the many power lines...

You can see the pinpoint of the bird of prey in between the top two wires (first pic below). Tiny. I stood for an extended period watching this Hawk. Watching it circle, tilt and disappear in the sun, only to reappear in the next instant. I thought of Jude and her love of "appearing and disappearing"  I thought about how it is best to have both: the appearing and the disappearing...but the appearing again, being essential. I thought about how one needs to concentrate and pay attention, so as to Not miss something. How quickly things change. How things can be there even when you don't see them. 

A man and woman (son and mother type ages) came up the path while I stood there. She asked, "What are you doing?" (seemed brave of her, since people don't just chat like that these days). I responded, "Watching the Hawk." (as if everyone did this sort of thing). They were interested. Wanted to see it. "Where?" they asked. I attempted to point out the far away creature, but it was again lost in the sunlight. But, we spied two more circling even further away. The man says, "There in the wires?" Yes, that was them! They seemed intrigued. like they may remember this encounter and look for Hawks in the future. I told them you have to concentrate and look to notice...that they (Hawks) appear and disappear - like everything in life really - so you have to pay attention.  As soon as we parted ways, I wished I had thought to tell them to come back at sunset ~ to see those same wires become magic. Oh well.

It's funny...I had been thinking that I hadn't planted a CMB in so long (wrapped up in the peach ones, as I am) and that I feel a bit guilty to come empty handed, without an offering. However, after this exchange, I thought perhaps I have different types of offerings. Perhaps today with the man and woman or last weekend with the dad and his two children (sharing birds nests and the snake story and an invitation to watch for lizards)...perhaps these are offerings too.

File these under "Food for Thought":

Indigenous In Plain Sight | Gregg Deal | TEDxBoulder

"...be the best Indians we can be, for you"

Better Listening - Life Examined, NPR (OCTOBER 18, 2023) (3.28 minutes)

"...How do you want me to listen?..."

Midweek Reset: Sharon Salzberg and emotional balance (OCTOBER 11, 2023) (3.35 minutes)

"...the middle path..."

Ken Burns: American Buffalo (OCTOBER 20, 2023) (10 minute listen)

May you do what you can

May you help how you can

May you offer what you can

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2023

Paused, Then Continuing

 

The post that never posted:

Blank

For obvious reasons, I felt blank last week and still do. But, I'm trying to look through a varied lens now and do some of my normal things that could be called self-care. This life extinguished in a parking lot seemed to conjure up the week in a simple, yet profound way.

I spent the week checking in on those I know who are deeply affected by the war in Israel...family, friends, co-workers and work families (who also made a point to check in with me)...each one with their own story, level of connectedness and pain. I read the writings of my niece as she shares her very personal feelings (HERE and then HERE)...I listen to these friends, family, humans as we all try to process what is happening. There are more feelings than words.

And I read and learn...Fight, Flight, Freeze (This last one, 'freeze' is often not mentioned, but I know it well)...and now TEND AND BEFRIEND. There is that word again: tend. I think about this new reading a lot throughout the week, especially as I check in with people. Although a new-to-me 'response theory', I feel we've met before. 

Each day someone who I know has a story, who I can surmise is suffering comes to mind. This weekend it is a baby I cared for many years ago, a tiny Israeli girl who left our center when her mother graduated, earned her degree and so, returned to her homeland, Israel. She would be old enough to attend that concert by now.

And each day I feel the distant connection, the unknown and the pain for all innocent peoples affected. As the Temple marque posted early in the week: Pray for the innocents.

Indeed.

Then, yesterday I again focused on the things I do...weaving, walking at the Railroad Bridge, weekend chores...the usual. Even though the world affairs are close in my mind, there is comfort and relief in doing 'the usual', even if you still feel like a pendulum swinging back and forth.

I now have pencils, that I can sharpen when needed...and an eraser, which will also be needed! I was imagining a human form, curled, tumbling - in water. There would have been water. Picture Matisse or Picasso or Klee (or anyone famous or unknown with some ability!!) But, the colored in greenish shape looked nothing like the image in my head...from first pencil lines, to fine pen, to the coloring...clearly a human form is not in my repertoire. So I just moved forward with therapy drawing that I Can Do. I will be adding more lines, squiggles, X's and O's and stonework and so on. Because we do what we can, when we can, eh?

LINK

This gal can start a YouTube channel and glasswork in the last chapter of her life. I mean really!!?? How inspiring is she?

At the Railroad Bridge this Saturday, there was a man and his two young children...we chatted, I pointed out the nests and told them of the long snake and many lizards. It was fun to share with young ones in this way.

The cottonwoods were super loud and they've lost many leaves already.  I could even hear the water flowing this week. I've come to the conclusion that we may just have water for the rest of the year and into the next rainy season. This still boggles my mind.

Even though the river has looked pretty similar over the past weeks, I notice that each photo shows subtle changes or my own differing perspectives. I notice the marking of time.

LINK

Tomorrow I will again be a 'working man'...so I made a point to be held in the weekend days in ways that feed me, fill me and teach me.

My weaving today began my 6th 'peach' Medicine Bag. For the (what I'm calling) accent color, I used a very vibrant blue. The stark difference in the colors makes a powerful statement, which I think will fit the recipient quite well. Like the River, each bag, while made of many of the same peach & white fibers, becomes its own. 

Today, I took J. with me over to Placerita Nature Center, where the creek was bone dry. It is hard to even tell that is a creek in the top pic!! What you can't see in the bottom pic are the many, many bees in the creek bed. I named them 'ground bees' as they swarmed around the rocks and greenery still there.

We wondered about this plant and later an image search show that it is a Common Cocklebur.

"COMMON COCKLEBUR (Xanthium strumarium) Toxicity rating: High Toxins: Glycoside, carboxyatractyloside, sesquiterpene lactones. The seeds and seedlings contain the highest quantity of toxins; yet the whole plant can be considered toxic. The seed burs can cause mechanical damage. Animals affected: All animals: cattle, swine, sheep and poultry are more at risk than horses or pets. Signs: Symptoms appear within a few hours. Gastrointestinal irritation, weakness, breathing difficulty, hypoglycemia, cardiac abnormalities, death. Liver damage may result from toxins, and death is likely if 0.75% of body weight is ingested. Description of plant: An annual that grows 2-4 ft. tall with an erect stem that is branched, ridged, spotted and rough. Leaves are triangular or heart-shaped and are rough on both sides. Flowers are small and the fruit is a hard, oval, prickly bur that contains 2 brown seeds."

QUOTE SOURCE

We sat at a picnic table by the amphitheater for a while feeling the breeze and listening to the song it played in the Sycamore trees. J. spotted a "wishing rock" right away and although it was broken, so the white line did not completely circle the rock, I held a wish in my heart anyway. Just in case. A wish for Humanity.

Once again, the sunlight put on a show and the plants had an outstanding performance!

LINK

May you always find a way through

May you find peace in the places you know well

May you find slivers of hope, even in what you don't know

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2023