“When we dance, we’re never really truly alone. If you keep that in mind, that gives you the courage and confidence to take what you learn and take it further.” —Samsoche Sampson
Their truck was there, but they were nowhere to be seen...probably went to lunch in another worker's truck says J. - my thoughts go to a much darker place. Where were they? We will never know.
The road out of Mentryville - "Kitty Rock" - One body, two ears and lots of imagination.
Talk about a young man now blind in one eye
Hug those you love
Talk about the still missing files
Stay connected to old friends
Talk about illegal moves, on every level
Make important phone calls
A brilliant city tree outside the local Goodwill, my nod to the fact that I usually don't take many city photos.
Talk about the many thefts: privacy, sanity, security for starters...
Love the clouds
Talk about the endless lies spewed
Care for your body
Talk about the hard stuff
Give to others
Out, out, out into Nature, breathing, pausing, taking mental notes and sharing special finds or things to consider. Paths of the remains of deep flowing water, leaving lumpy, bumpy mud behind. Leaving chalky white rocks, salty-like residue and reddish clay. Now, larger areas of restoration exist, tiny fenced new growth and little flags flying in the breeze marking each new plant.
A place we've been before, seen before...breathed in before...a place that remains good. We never tire of it. Even when noting the recent weather related changes, it is like coming home. Home happens when one returns to place again and again. Home feels good. Today the path and nearby moist creek leading to the old rock home had the sweetest scent you ever could smell. A bench placed trailside, perfect for viewing the snag of a tree.
Two Community Medicine Bags were planted. Current count: 105
Talk about all that needs to be said, but do more than just talk too
Take actions that help sustain you and others as well
This woman shares small living in her very precise way. I'm mostly sharing this here in case others are on the lookout for books for some lighter summer reading (I thought of Dee's recent statement regarding this). She offers up some titles and for more, click over to watch on you tube, where there are many more titles in the comments.
I particularly resonated with the idea of light reading and no more self-help reading (even if drawn to it? ha).
If I were to add my two cents, it would be to say that I have only read one book in the Anna Pigeon series. It was titled "The Rope" and I've been wanting to reread it recently...or possibly check out some of the other books in the series. I really enjoyed it at the time. You can find her titles HERE.
Additionally, I've always intended to read a book by Katherine Center, as they look light and fun. Somehow I never get to it. Perhaps that needs to change.
Anyway, what are you reading this summer?
Would you just look at the view from "the Mother's Day place"! The last time we were there, we did that bigger hike up to the top. Too much of a hike really.
Anyway, yesterday was more of a meandering, plant life exploring walk. Everything was wildly green and thick. We again saw many new things in the natural world.
We went a short distance up this this trail, which is at the end of the big lot - that is used as a "staging area" during wildfires.
However, I think I will post more of these photos on the next go around. I've noticed how long my posts have become - in my excitement about what I've been discovering. I can pretty much bet that I am the only one interested in all of my jabbering and long photo streams.
We'll leave it here for today.
How do you modify what you do, when you need to?
May you continue to get out
May you fill your own bucket
May you respectfully share the goodness you discover
We went to what I've been calling "city park" today. I learned its true name though, Jake Kuredjian Park. Evidently it is more of a County Park. I also found Jake's Story. Sad.
We did not got into the park and walk on those paths. Instead, we walked past the catch basin and along-side the canal/river. It was a whole different experience.
Views towards the Pico Incline and towards the park itself, each side of the overpass.
Like so many, I love Dylan. This 45 is one of the first records of his I owned. I keep his 'Greatest Hits' in my car at all times. My funny memory of this song is in 1969, as I headed into 6th grade, I spent a lot of time at the local park, which was a long walking distance from my apartment. We mostly sat there on the grass, listening to music on a small transistor radio. Remember those? We'd walk down the street, radio right up to our ear - filling up on the top 40 music! This song, as I sat mindlessly picking grass, I thought (FOR YEARS) that he sang "lay on my funky grass bed". It made total sense in that moment, being heard on a scratchy am radio. The fact that I was too busy singing it my way for so long, that I didn't really notice just totally cracks me up. I still usually sing it my way, as that is the image embedded in my head.
Yep, good old Johnny Cash and one of those beloved story songs! I loved the humor, the rough and tumble...and my 45 wasn't bleeped! haha Love Johnny Cash.
🎤
Today, I came across this video below and found it so fascinating. I've heard (and seen videos) of music having an impact on speech, cognition and memory before. This one showed the physical changes that can happen. Wow. From shuffling to dancing. The power of music.
Power Of Music On The Brain | Dementia & Parkinson's
I took notice when one of the women said: "Music is a human right". I agree.
We walked along the side of the...concrete river (?). I'm not really sure what to call it, so I'm making it up as I go along. We could hear the water draining in from the sloped cement side, but it did not look like it moved much. There were so many butterflies and dragonflies. I bet there is a lot of mosquitoes down there too!!
An interesting combo of city life, with wildness off in the distance - commanding an outstanding view. Back by the road, we discovered more of these rose trees and a path that continues up the street. We decided to try going that way next time. I think that is where the memorial plaque for Jake is. We'll see. We sat by this bridge (above) for a little break. It is kind of amazing that right on the other side of the shrubs on the left is that big grassy park.
1969 HITS ARCHIVE: Green River - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Well, J. just shakes his head at this one...but, hey I was young...the perfect tween age for this stuff (back before 'tween' was a thing!). I remember taking a few favorite records over to my friends house in my bike basket. This was one of those. Young girls. Ha. Not quiet the stuff young girls of 2024 listen to! haha
Many (most) of you who come here, also read over at Grace's place. Over a year ago, she sent a call out to the universe and Wendy regarding starting a therapy group and well, it happened! She talked about it HERE. I chuckled at her speaking of Trust in this post as it remains current. Many have been coming together, Gathering at The Well for all of these months. Some have drifted in and out, or just out for the time being and right now there are a couple of openings, so we wanted to send out an invitation to those who may be interested.
*Nuts & Bolts:
We meet (zoom) typically twice a month on Saturdays (time for each of us varies by timezone). Wendy is our facilitator. We come with listening and love in our hearts and at least 65ish Plus years on this planet.
I've been walking in the neighborhood, instead of driving to the bridge. Just not trusting that nothing is wrong with the car, so I'm sticking close to home for the most part...playing it safe.
It turns out there is so much beauty close to home, if you really look.
It's coming up to Wildflower Season and its predicted to be a Super Bloom year. You can check out the LIVE CAM at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. It doesn't look very "super" yet, but who knows. We did have more rain the other day...Loud, Pelting, Pouring rain....and more rain today (Sunday)!
This lovely white rose up the street had the most delicate scent and calming presence.
I completed the third Unity, Diversity, 'People Colors' Medicine Bag that I was working on. Then I took a break for some bright Spring colors (seen below). I've got flowers on the brain! I plan to get back to the earth browns as well, and I did throw a spot of brown into one of the recent Spring bags.
After some recent storms, I was not at all surprised at more rain today (Sunday). We've gotten used to the fact that if we can hear the rain on the carports, it is raining hard. In the past, there have been many times when we could not even hear the rain without opeing the door and stepping onto the patio. It's so strange how that is.
One direction the skies looked to be clearing, but with a slight turn of the head, a different story is shown! That odd shape in the second photo below is. neighbor's umbrella. I think it is the one from this story: The other day, sitting around - minding my own business...when I heard a 'thunk' outside in the corridor. What? So, I stepped out to check it out. An open umbrella was bouncing around on its pointed tip. Where did that come from? There was no wind. No wind. The building maintenance man came to fetch it and I'm guessing returned it to the neighbor. This was much appreciated as it bounced about near the bedroom window. Since my new middle name could be Murphy (as in Murphy's Law), I figured if there was a way it could bust that window, it would!
It occurs to me that things spontaneously fall around here...the towel of recently, the large seed pod and pine cone in the corridor a while back. I'm starting to feel like Chicken Little!
Happy bright Spring Flowers colors were used for the last set of 3 Medicine Bags. Aren't they cheery?! If my memory serves me, these fibers came from Dee (warp thread still from Hazel). It is funny how I set these little goals for myself. I wonder why? Anyway, my plan is to use up these bag of fibers. I think I can make 2-3 more bags with what is left. We'll see.
Of course thanks go out once again to Dee and Hazel. 💕 I'm grateful for these gifts, which allow me opportunities to do something I love and share it in the greater world. Thanks.
May you keep in touch with the earth for beautiful growth
May you keep an eye on the skies for falling items
I am an old woman Named after my mother My old man is another Child who's grown old
If dreams were lightning And thunder were desire This old house would've burned down A long time ago
Make me an angel That flies from Montgomery Make me a poster Of an old rodeo Just give me one thing That I can hold on to To believe in this livin' Is just a hard way to go
When I was a young girl Well, I had me a cowboy He weren't much to look at Just a free ramblin' man
But that was a long time And no matter how I tried The years just flowed by Like a broken down dam
Make me an angel That flies from Montgomery Make me a poster Of an old rodeo Just give me one thing That I can hold on to To believe in this livin' Is just a hard way to go
There's flies in the kitchen I can hear 'em there buzzin' And I ain't done nothing Since I woke up today
How the hell can a person Go to work in the morning Then come home in the evening And have nothing to say?
Make me an angel That flies from Montgomery Make me a poster Of an old rodeo Just give me one thing That I can hold on to To believe in this livin' Is just a hard way to go
To believe in this livin' Is just a hard way to go
No matter the year, no mater the version or who sings with Miss Bonnie...this song takes me down every time. Here is another amazing version from 2022. The harmonies at the end...precious.
I'm sure I've put this song here before...Yep - HERE and HERE
Anyway, The first verse popped into my head this morning, and I was humming, singing away. 🙂 J. and I talked about the lyrics, John Prine...the fact that he was only about 24 when he wrote this song - that captures so, so much.
This sent me looking up the lyrics (not that I didn't know them already, but to see them in print). Again, how did he do that - wrote this beauty of a song?!
In the reading, I learned a new word "lachrymose"...seems like this is a word I should have known! ha.
And in some comment somewhere...a quote to ponder. I can safely say, that at this point I'm happy to move away from "busy". Again:
"Don't just do something, sit there"
The version I post today is older, a younger Bonnie...man, I love her and this song...when she flashes that dimple. sigh. I've listened to half a dozen others today, but only share 2 here.
Enjoy y'all.
~~~~~❤️~~~~~
Off to The Bridge I went today. Finally. It felt like I'd been away so long, too long. I was happy to be back.
A bright and beautiful day. It was so busy there. Lots of bike riders, a skateboarder and a whole "gang of bikers"...who were gathered at the benches near the map...and were talking, smoking, preaching, speeching, jousting with one another and voting on some infraction of some sort.
This tree had some sort of white something on its lower half. I have no idea what this was. It looked kinda like paint? Which makes no sense. I also considered the fact that there are still fruit fly traps everywhere out here...could that have anything to do with it? Mmmmm...
The tree above had angel wings 🙂 The river seemed lower today....maybe.
But, the sky was as big and bright as usual. It seems as if each time I come to The Bridge, it is gorgeous weather and sky! I never tire of this.
Today, I was greeted by a very vocal crow on the Bridge. There he sat making his crow sounds for the longest time. I watched and took dozens of photos. After a few minutes, another crow joined him. This one flew over with something in its beak. It landed near the first one and proceeded to eat or crack open or whatever crows do. The first crow quite quickly flew off to the side supports of the Bridge. I just stood as an observer. Many people passed by, without a second glance, oblivious to the action overhead. I thought the first crow may go towards one of the nests, but never did see that happen.
Do you see First Crow up in the center there? He had his back to me. When he moved, his feathers became the blue/black of Veronica's hair in the Archie comics.
Off to the side...and second crow...
Once again...that teeny square nail shined blue in the sunlight. Try as I might, I really can't capture that. This was a close as I could get today. See the tiny nail near the knothole? It shines the most beautiful shade of blue!
Bridge folks and art shots!
After being with crows for some time, I moved on...walking quietly and telling them that it was Okay, I wouldn't hurt them. It was then, as I moved past them that I heard Hawk cries. My head spun around and my shaded eyes searched the skies. I heard first one, then an answering Hawk. Then the Crows started to call back to the Hawk.
Somewhere in this sky were two hawks, calling...disappearing with a tilt of their wings. I looked, watched for a long time. Just this brief encounter made my heart soar.
Today I was able to walk a bit further again...so I made sure to check in on the Odd Poles. The nesting material was gone and in its place was some sort of fibrous material. What was it?
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I had a couple of other stops today. Nothing all that important. But what was noticeable were the amount of crows out playing. It was not really windy (we know how they love the wind!) - but, they were everywhere in vast numbers!
Two Crow trees in a parking lot. You can't even really see how many there were perched in these trees in front of my parked car. Maybe you can enlarge to see more.
Then on the way out, EVEN MORE CROWS!! It seriously looked like the movie "The Birds". haha They kept moving about, so these photos also do not capture the impact of seeing so many at once (but I was literally pulled over on the exit driveway to take these!). It was wild.
