A drive through Heritage Valley, included a stop at the Honey Farm and a local produce stand. This highway has many produce stands, which we've gone to in the past. But, the one we visited on this trip was new to us. A nice stand, a nice man (Sid) and ready to open on Oct. 1st is their Fall-Halloween pumpkin farm, maze and so on. We bought just a little, supplementing what we had at home. I've been working on purchasing smaller amounts, making sure we can get to it all before it spoils.
Drawing and using added water to the Inktense colors. I chose a tricky image to inspire me this time. Remember...I don't do depth perception well and I have no way to portray the white foamy water. Plus, I have a limited amount of colors, so I just pick whatever one is 'close enough'. However, I don't care. I'm out for the fun of it...and it was. I don't mind working within my limitations and art supply boundaries.
City Park trail closed, due to brush clearing again. We feel for the living beings of all sorts down there, but we know it will grow back fairly quickly.
I love when the clouds come in and ring the valley, falling over the mountain's edge.
I've also continued weaving. Here they are...6 Medicine Bags based on the skein in the middle and one pinks and girly looking bag. More on that one later.
What looks like a lot of doing, has really been spread out over many days. I feel like I'm in some sort of low-lull lately, so making and walking has been slow to arrive.
What frame of mind are you in? How does that affect your days?
After a week of heat, vaccines and a general lull in getting out to walk...cabin fever kicked in. We planned to head over to Vasquez Rocks, where we've been before. I was hoping for visions of space, amazing rock formations and stunning clouds. On the way, we were reminded of this Open Space area we'd discovered in the past, but had not yet visited. So, a quick U-turn and a change in plans. There is such a luxury in that, all by itself.
The views were mostly tan, with pops of color from plant growth, flowers and stark white rocks. Traffic on a highway flowed off in the distance, a man walking his two dogs (quite respectful of us, I might add and much appreciated by me), two wasps who liked me too much and deep emptiness and just us.
✅ Drive home the long way
After being out in the fresh air, I wasn't ready to head home, so we took the long way. We traveled through two canyons that we'd not been through recently and saw many sights, both peopled and those of the natural world. When I saw a 'deer crossing' road sign, showing a leaping dear...well, of course that lead to thoughts of antelope at play and the singing of Home On the Range. J. recommended this version for my (our) listening pleasure. 🙂
On the way through one of the canyons, we found a place to pull over and spend some time in the pines. A short walk, with lots of pauses to deeply inhale peace and rest our eyes on a whole world. Serenity.
Filled with loud wind and large pinecones. I announce that I could live in the pines. The moments hold me still and content.
Mountain Mahogany...wow! First time seeing this glorious plant. Isn't it curious?!
I was inspired by Mo and Liz's posts to make my own Peace Banner today.
LAST NOTE: I'm having blogger issues regarding who is visiting or referring my blog. The stats are very wonky and make me uncomfortable. I switched to 'invited readers', but this has not solved the problem as some have told me they can't access the blog, even when invited. Plus, there are many invites out there...unanswered? If I could ask a big favor, it will help me decide what to do next. If you are here and able to read my blog, can you please let me know. A quick comment or email, just so I have some idea. And if you are also on Blogger...Help! haha But, really, any tips welcome. Thank you all so much.
What ways did you welcome peacefulness today?
May you check off non-material things that feed you
This past week was one of visits to medical offices for flu shots and covid vaccines. I lucked out with both, but J. wasn't so lucky with his VA covid vaccine. We were left unsure when they would be made available for him. The online, phone and in person information is not lining up, so we'll see.
I noticed the pomegranate bushes at my medical building were quite different. The top two pics are from the back of the building and the last pic is from the front of the building. Really had me wondering the difference in color and stage of growth. Amount of water or light? Condition of soil? Perhaps.
Queen Margaret College, Voces Luce | What happens when a Woman - Alexandra Olsavsky
Thanks go out to Jacqui for sharing this video. Aren't they wonderful?! It felt so refreshing to see a group of strong young women, within their message - standing tall...standing up for all. Let's stand together.
On the way home from the VA, we stopped at this park. I had been there once before, many, many years ago with a good friend. For some reason, I just never got back there, until this week.
We walked for just a bit, as I was not wearing good walking shoes. Such a beautiful and calm place, even if we were greeted by lots of rules! Maybe that is why it is so beautiful? Those contrails looked like 'wishing clouds' to me! ha The clouds were fantastic again that day. We decided that we will for sure go back to this park, which is just over the hill in The Valley.
One of the best things I saw on this visit was a young couple there enjoying the park. They walked in down the long path in and upon arriving at the open grass and trees area, they discovered a large, old tree growing bent over, almost parallel to the ground. First, she tried to climb up the trunk and was unsuccessful. Then he took a turn and basically ran up the bent trunk, scooting over to a flattened spot to sit and dangle his legs. There were smiles, laughter...communication and connection. She reached up to him, as if to say 'pull me up'...then she tried to grab his dangling legs to pull herself up on her own. What I did not see in the many minutes we were both by the green, was a cell phone. Neither of them had a phone out...no photos of them attempting tree climbing, or sitting...no selfies of them together. Nothing. Just two people together having fun and enjoying a day. Deep breath love for this moment of witnessing.
Back home, this week we had very warm weather and beautiful clouds, which made it somewhat humid (for us here). We even got a dash of rain overnight.
Happy "Cloud Appreciation Day" everyone! J. announced this to me this morning, surprising me with this new to me calendar date. Of course I appreciate clouds everyday, but how fun to have a designated day.
Looking around, I discovered something else new to me...a place The Cloud Appreciation Society. Who knew there is such a society!? Even if you are not a link follower, I encourage you to poke around over there...even if you only look at the gallery. Gorgeous!
I do love the thought of us all looking up on the same day, or any given day.
Here are today's clouds (and more) from the "Mother's Day" spot. Big sky views!
Over at the Cloud Appreciation Society you can submit your cloud photo on this special day and include the location and how the cloud made you feel (I love that they included feelings in it). That really got me thinking about: how do I "feel" when I see these clouds?
Today the clouds made me feel lighter and temporary, transient. The clouds were not particularly bold or dramatic. They did not fill the whole sky, not entirely wispy...but still barely showing up in places.
We were not sure about this animal print. In real life, it looked rather big cat? Maybe. It didn't look dog/coyote like (even if there was so much scat scattered about today)...but we were not sure. Something to ponder.
Above are yesterday's city park clouds, which I was watching (even before I knew there was a holiday!)
The clouds circling along with the mountain at this edge of the local valley. White, expansive, holding. They had me wishing for more. More clouds, more wide sky, more escape.
Yesterday, people were suggesting folks touch grass. I planned on doing just that...but there were so many ants...hundreds and hundreds! Almost solid ants spread along the long curb roadside. It brought up the memory of walking out of a school-age program I worked at. One evening as I walked out with a parent, talking and walking...when we got to the front of the building, the entire pavement area was covered in ants. I do mean covered - millions of ants swarming everywhere across the wide expanse of cement that created a large welcoming entrance. The reason I recall it so well is because the next morning, very early, was the 1994 earthquake! I always wondered if those ants knew before we did?!
The grocery store clouds, while afloat high in the sky - light and giving their usual happy feeling, yet mired in a heaviness only hinted at by the lowered flag. The weight of the lowered flags on the path of our day had me looking back to the clouds.
Wednesday's clouds were brilliant and held the unkept promise of moisture, possibly rain. The illumination by the sun...exciting, causing awe and the hope for a change.
The neighborhood walk shared a world brightened by the light of sun and clouds.
A not-so-secret garden! Through the vine covered arch, a small peace sign welcoming a passerby a view inside.
Under this fallen oak is a truck. That must have been some surprise. Yikes!
FROM TINA AND HER SISTER-IN-LAW! Wonderful!!
When did you last appreciate the clouds?
May you appreciate what you've got
May you look up...and around
May you touch grass...or sage or the softness of rose petals
