I just spent 39:07 minutes watching a 14-15 year old amaze me. As I sat weaving colors of nature, I saw him out there within, inside of, immersed in nature. What a stellar young man!
So many California memories came up for me. Places I've been and still hold dear. Ways that I've traveled and where I landed.
What a beautiful country the United State is. This is good to remember right now.
๐ฅพ
What kinds of challenges have you put upon yourself?
May you challenge yourself now and then
May you know when that would not be fruitful
May you respect where you've been and where you are
I started to patiently begin a new Medicine Bag (or a few!). My photos in the house at night are wickedly bad representations of the colors. Oh well. Beginning with the strap, I really wanted to use the beautiful, ultra soft yarn (bottom left), but I discovered that it really is not sturdy enough for the kind of strength a strap needs. So, I auditioned three other yarns. They will eventually be used...even the first one, which pulled apart. I can weave that one right into a bag as a weft piece. So all is well. I'm really excited by all of these yarns. The colors and softness really speak to me.
Ripple (Grateful Dead) feat. Bill Kreutzmann |Playing For Change | Song Around The World
Yes, I've posted this song before...but I thought of it today and I love it so much, so why not?!
I feel like there have been a few days of conversations that have been deeply meaningful. Thoughts exchanged with an old friend about Friday being the best day of the week and the history of that story. Thoughts of strengths and love shared. Then earlier tonight, this Little Poet post, where she talked about some memories being best held in one's heart (and not on social media). This is something I consider a lot. Where the details live. The "Fridays" dialog included ideas about embracing a "pause". I added it to the Word Cloth. There are many meaningful ways to pause.
Even when it seems I may be running out of room on this cloth, I haven't yet. I keep it near me, near one of my evacuation "go bags". It is valuable to me on such a personal level.
I'm hoping tomorrow feels a little better, my hips have been yelling at me and my flu shot reared up it's cruddy little head, giving me flu like reactions. At least I have weaving to do and I am free to pause as needed.
WORDLE
I was inspired to do a WORDLE puzzle last night. After trying to recall how to do it (I haven't done one since 5/13/2025) - I solved it in two words! My storytelling may be a bit rough after so long.
She decided she was pretty GREAT, but wasn't sure where to TRACE that confidence back to.
A trip up the coast...through Santa Paula - where the road work had us sitting still in traffic for ages...past our Emma Wood, past La Conchita and into Carpinteria.
From fields of pomegranates and avocados to the endless sea...and sunlight dancing on the treetops...rugged mountains hugged the highway...human history sprinkled in between.
In Carp (as the locals call it) we stop in Roxanne's a quilt/yarn store I have not been to since well before the pandemic. I meant to take photos and forgot all about that. If I wanted, there are dozens of gifts, fabric or fiber I could have splurged on. However, I don't really shop like that anymore. I use what I have and buy just what I need...but boy, what a cheerful store to dream in. The trinkets and beautiful cards really caught my eye.
Go here to see a videoof this store, it's worth a look.
I ended up with the softest, sweetest colored Alpaca yarn and a creamy, dreamy off-white. The employee offered to wind my purchase for me! Yes, thank you!! below is the one and only pic I took! haha
Then we were off to the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve. It felt warmer than we were expecting, but nowhere near as hot as our valley. The perk of have the Pacific Ocean so close by.
The sandy paths held views of plant life and the sea...large, old Eucalyptus trees, both standing and fallen to the earth. The warning sign nearby seemed like a given!
The rumbling sound of the train coming had me stop on the trail. The conductor and I waved at each other. I felt like a kid at play!
I wasn't even going to take photos today, since we'd just been to The Bridge so recently. But then my eyes fell on curious things...
Someone has been busy gathering long branches by the river. I wonder what was or will be their plan? Curious, I'll have to look the next time I'm there. The long branch that has been there is now in a new location, near this pile.
Sweet - The Ballroom Blitz - Disco/Promo Clip 27.10.1973 (OFFICIAL)
This song popped into my head while half listening to tonight's news. Yeah.
I then spent a long, long time listening to old music. After hearing multitudes of 1970's singer-songwriter songs, it came to me that maybe what is missing today are songs with empathy. The youth of today could use that. We all could.
When the the stiff, hot breeze blew...we got an amazing light show within the the underside of the leaves.
The glaring sun made the sandy river bottom glaringly white and the water soaked green, especially green. I wondered how the fallen tree would react if we were to get big rains, like we got last December. Fingers crossed we will find out come winter.
Lots of markings, some understandable, some sweetly authentic. The many spots of green spray paint seemed to mark something related to the sewer covers/lines. There were little green flags too. The rocks and autumn-colored ribbons...well, I have no idea what those were all about!
Things blooming caught my eye after a recently watched watercolor video. More on that soon.
Today I threw a "Garden Party" on the little loom. I love how cheerful this Garden Series Medicine Bag is. It makes me smile and that's a good thing.
*Note to self: That deep 'blue' yarn is really a deep purple, as seen in the previous bags. Indoor nighttime light...grrr...
Tonight's moon gave me a pause and a smile...and a moment of peace.
What does each location or activity offer up to you?
May you remain curious
May you smile
May you feel peace-filled moments, wherever you may be
"So much to worry about, so much to be grateful for."
I heard this in a video or read it somewhere, but did not seem to make a notation regarding where or who. My apologies to this person. At any rate, it rang true for me and I wanted to share it. Just thinking about it this way is helpful these days.
Today when we asked each other the familiar question about where to go for our walk, we both had thought of the same place, the 'Little Free Library' trail. So, that's where we went. It was hot @ 93 degrees and I was pretty worn out when we got home, but still glad we went.
There were so many dragon flies and songbirds singing their lovely songs. A soaring hawk and some kind of large wasps? flying over an open 'meadow' area. I didn't slow down to get a better look!
A walnut tree full of nuts and another one with none to be seen...but, a few squirrels racing back and forth across the road. When we looked to the tree they were running towards, we saw their huge home mound, which was probably filled with all of those walnuts! It was wild! Photos below - you can see the mound to the right of the tree in the bottom pic.
I found two itty-bitty crow feathers, which was great since I've mailed off all of the ones I'd previously found. A new collection of them begun today.
It was good to get out, even if it was in the weighted heat of August.
Later, at home, I switched up some colors and warped the little loom again. I'm calling this one Garden Party.
“Hope is not a passive thing” ECM @ Resistance Live on You Tube.
What do you give names to?
May you be in agreement with loved ones
May you hold small worries and large heaps of gratefulness