Saturday, November 29, 2025

Place

More and more, she takes the slow, short drive that is the long way home. Her spirit calls for it. Up the road, towards the iron gate...a hill that skirts the open land beyond that gate.

She is flooded with memories and questions that continue to remain unanswered.

Windows down she reaches for the places she's loved for so long. The little houses, not the grand ones...the trees dressed in their seasonal color. She looks for the wild turkeys and the hawks. She looks for any changes and finds comfort in the familiar.

She wonders: why has she loved the little places more, the house with a collection of old beat up 'vintage' trucks...not the giant wrap around porches, three car garages or swimming pools? She welcomes in the things that call just to her...just to unique her.

80 degrees and long shadows pull her eyes to familiar places...rows of trees, stands of oaks. It is not the big houses there - it is the trees. And it is the peeling paint on the porch posts of the little one bedroom and the placement of one golden-yellow preschool sized plastic chair, metal legs - waiting in the grass of the front yard, where never a child has been seen.

It's the low flat rock where she sat some 25 years ago, mourning her daddy and looking to the hills for conversations with him. It's the green covered hillside lot, behind a white fence...empty for the same 25 odd years. A small "for sale by owner" holding the the entirety of the heartbreaking tale of a couple with land purchased, ready to build a home...until the wife passes away and the lot sits empty...forever. The small rise of the land, oaks at the entrance, bigger hillside behind...someplace to build, to sit and look out - look out towards?

She wonders...

Where is your spirit place?

May you take some time to reflect

May you not get lost there

May you treasure your old stories as the golden gift that they are

Different

Today while out, we checked out the local park, which was recently completely redone.

There is some fun structures and a sculpture installation. There are a few different pieces of equipment for ADA compliance, which is way cool. There was a ping pong table, basketball hoops, a corn hole set...picnic tables, benches and BBQs.

There have been tons of children there every time we've passed by. It was rarely used in the past, so what an improvement for the community.

I could have sat on a bench and watched the littles for a long time. Someone else is not as entertained by this as I am. haha We both agreed that the grandchildren would love it if they were here.

I disappeared all of the people out of the pics. We were not alone! J. walked backwards up the turff hill, working out his calves...but we are both too old for the faux rock climbing hill! That big circle was quite merry-go-round like. A little toddler and his grandma were using it. He was saying "Do it some more" as she held on to him and made it spin. 🙂

It seems like there is a 'bridge' everywhere I go!

I tried out the bench...with the large acorn hanging right over my head! A little precarious for earthquake country! ha

This tree held 100's of small songbirds ~ singing their little hearts out! It was not our usual outing, but I was curious after watching the construction over the past months. It was nice to be out among the happy children. Sometimes it is nice to switch things up and it was another beautiful day to do so.

Where have you gone recently that is out of your norm?

May you stay curious

May you get out among the living

May you look for the good moments

Thursday, November 27, 2025

Thankful

No words, no chronological order from the day...no explanations...just gratitude for so much.

From our home to yours...

May you be safe

May you be healthy

May you be secure

May you feel content and loved

May you live with ease

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

River Check - The Slow Life

An old card found

Two days ago, it was clear enough, so we took a simple drive over to the bridge to check the water level after the rains. It was lush and fine and flowing beautifully. Enough of a flow and openness to play Pooh Sticks again. Do you see us up on the bridge? heehee

The Buy Nothing Rebellion — and What It Really Means

LINK 11:10 minutes

This video began as a Mmmm? I wonder what his take is on the "buy nothing" trend. But, I was happily surprised to find a deeper concept than I was expecting. I kept hear Jude and others saying "chop wood, carry water". I know this is not a new outlook or lesson...but, I heard it in a new way. Isn't that how it goes? Then I was over at Saskia's and she too was talking about The Dwelling and other happenings from this perspective. I want to practice this more.

Top photo: I notice a flash of white and spy the egret across the river.

Middle photo: Once uploaded, I zoom in for closer look.

Bottom photo: I tried to capture the scene as I saw it: Tall, narrow bright-white bird under the tall, narrow power lines.

70-Year-Old Woodcarving Master Cuts Down a Tree and Crafts Her Last Spoon

LINK 27:52 minutes

Then I came across this gal. I was intrigued because of J's past spoon making and our visit to a spoon making craftsman years ago. I've given most of them away now, hanging on to a few I really love. Anyway, I enjoyed seeing her process and meeting the poet that is inside of her.

I also watched her make bread in a mud oven. You can see it HERE (28:01 minutes). Such a gift.

I am so grateful to all of you who share the trail with me...who give me so much in the way of time, knowledge, inspiration and love. I am so grateful for the ways I can be in the world, even if I wish for more/different. I am grateful for the slowing down and the noticing.

How do you show or share gratitude?

May you share your gifts

May you accept the gifts of others

May you each have much to be grateful for

Monday, November 24, 2025

Weaving - Then and Now

Many years ago, I helped celebrate "Week of the Young Child" with our local community. I posted a photo back HERE. I brought a "warped hula-hoop", pre-cut yarn fibers to weave and small tags for the participants to add their name or how they felt about the experience or how they felt weaving could bring people together. Before they went off to their next adventure, they were able to choose a ball of yarn & note in a bag, to go. I wrote them a bit differently each of the two years I did it this way. I loved the community aspect of this event...bringing community members to celebrate and honor young children...members of the community donating their time and others donating bags of yarn, which I wound into small-medium balls to give away. Such a good feeling when things come together in such a way.

I wove a few Medicine Bags with 'pink' at the suggestion/request of an old friend. When we met recently, I brought these 3 with me and let her choose. I actually don't think I've done it this way before. Either I find out their color likes and make something or I just meditate on the person & what I know/feel/read about them and make something...or I make a CMB and plant it out on a trail - knowing nothing of who will get it. I was excited and intrigued to see which she'd pick. She chose the one on the left. It's a happy lil bag, isn't it?

I awoke one morning thinking I really like brown and pink together, what if I try that? We had some fun conversations being reminded of candy or ice cream from days gone by. J. remembered this one, which I'd never heard of! I still have some 'pink' left, so I wonder what I will think of next?!

The one below will be off in the mail soon, for someone who likes the blues of the ocean, the greens of nature and the pure white clouds of the sky!

pomegranate trail

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