Gathering Memories and Walnuts

 We walked the 'grocery day drive' today. I took 2 Community Medicine Bags with me to plant. I left the first one on the gate at the start of the winding road to Mentryville. I left one here years ago, when a dad was walking in with his little girl. Today we saw another young dad and his even younger daughter when we got to the parking lot. I of course, do not really know any of the relationships of these folks, but that is how it appears to me and I use these labels as a way to describe.  Anyway, we have not walked here in months. This road often has a large number of annoying flying insects...that just love flying in my face. Today we lucked out with only a few large flies. I think it is worse in the hot summer months. Speaking of 'hot'...it was only 88 degrees today, but it still felt like 98°!! We wonder when - IF - we will ever feel cool again. But, no matter, it was a beautiful day for a walk.

After the first planting, which brings the count up to 111 Community Medicine Bags put out into the universe, we headed down the road. It is a narrow road, so one needs to walk in the road - facing traffic. We step aside when a car approaches and wave to each other in recognition. "Thanks for stepping back" "Thanks for slowing down for us". I asked a pair of women walkers the brand of their shoes (I am looking for more ankle support for my next pair of walking shoes). We continue to say that we meet the nicest people when we're out walking, hiking, exploring trails and parks. Aren't we lucky?!!

Along with other plant life, today it was again the light on Cottonwoods that caught my breath. There was this bush with puffs of softness waiting for a big wind. I'm still not sure what it is. There was Buffalo Gourd - AKA Coyote Melon.

For me though, it was the Cottonwoods that sang! I know I will never, ever tire of seeing them...sunlight through the leaves, which dance in the wind. Pure delight. Just look!

Two little out buildings greet us as we move towards the parking lot & entrance. I wonder what service they provided back in the day?

We paused to rest at the picnic tables under the big Pepper Tree. There used to be a very active bee hive in this tree, but it is gone now. Why? Where did it go?

The second CMB was planted on the entrance (from the parking lot) gate. Will today's young dad and child find it?

On the way out, J. gathers some fallen walnuts for me. Upon arrival home, I add them to the dye pot. But first, I marvel at the clouds some more. They looked like watercolor paint merging and floating.

I couldn't quite recall how I'd used walnuts in the past, so I just dumped some of them in the little pot. 🙂

But first, a couple of MUG SHOTS...

#13 Walnuts and Sycamore Stick

What aspects in nature do you wallow in?

 

May you continue to go out in nature

May you push through, if needed

May you plant many seeds

xo

#goodenough

9-26-2026 Howl at the Moon

 

Listen to the wolves, coyotes, birds...your own spirit...

Hear the lizards skitter through leaves and debris

Hear the turtles plop into the water

Feel the flow of all life move through you

HOWL TO THE MOON | Epic Wolf Anthem

LINK 4:48 minutes

From the description box:

LYRICS I howl... to the moon tonight Howl... just enough to know I’m alive I don’t need an answer I don’t need a sign Just let the moon hear this voice of mine I howl... to the moon tonight I’ve spent too many nights with words I couldn’t say Too many empty rooms where nothing went away So I step into the cold and let the whole world sleep No explanation No promises to keep Just a throat, just a lung, and one sound I can still make The moon don’t ask me where I’ve been It don’t need me to explain a thing It just hangs there over everything So I breathe and sing... I howl... to the moon tonight Howl... just enough to know I’m alive I don’t need an answer I don’t need a sign Just let the moon hear this voice of mine I howl... to the moon tonight Maybe I’m a lone wolf Maybe that’s alright I learned to keep moving when nobody walked beside But even a lone wolf needs somewhere to call Somewhere to throw his voice when the silence gets too strong So I lift my head Let the night come through And give the dark the only thing it never took: My voice The moon don’t judge me for the shape I’m in It don’t care where the hurt begins It just stays there So I let it know I’m still here I howl... to the moon tonight Howl... just enough to know I’m alive I don’t need an answer I don’t need a sign Just let the moon hear this voice of mine I howl... to the moon tonight Howl... Howl... No words. No answer. Just the night carrying it farther than I can. I used to think someone had to hear me For the sound to mean a thing Now I know Some nights you howl just to feel your own heart ring Not for rescue Not for proof Not because you know you’ll make it through You howl Because the night is wide And something in you still wants life I howl... to the moon tonight Howl... just enough to know I’m alive I don’t need an answer I don’t need a sign Just let the moon hear this voice of mine I howl... Howl... Something answers mine. Not a word. Not a name. Just another voice inside the night. I howl... to the moon tonight Howl... Far away... Howl... Closer now. I thought I was alone. Maybe not. I howl... To the moon.

The many, many birds were singing their hearts out. Can you see them way up at the top. So many birds = so much song!

I was inspired by Jude jumping back into some weaving and I was also inspired by the photo of the mountains in shades of gray. So, I wove it. Or I tried to anyway. How'd I do?

Here is the photo again...

And here is the woven response...

What inspires you?

 

May you feel the urge to create

May you hear the animals

May you howl at the moon

xo

#goodenough

JUSTICE

 

Justice...From this link: "Justice means the quality of being fair, morally right and, impartial, as well as the legal system used to judge and punish wrongdoers." Follow the link to consider more.

In conversation with a friend last night, this word - JUSTICE - came to mind. Yesterday felt incredibly heavy with the lack of JUSTICE for Nolan Wells. I've been following this case closely, so listening to this DA - to watch her smirk and hear her tone and choice of words was sickening. That on top of so much else...all of the other things wrong in the world - it has been a burden recently. The stitching felt centering, the cloth feels good in my hands.

I spread open the Word Cloth in front of me and considered where to place this important word. Each word here holds so much meaning and personal history, entwined with the public experiences of so many others. The cloth is fairly full at this point, so I could not make the word big (like "enough" is) like I wanted to. I considered what words already surrounding any open spaces...nothing felt right. Then I looked to the area by Trust & Truth and realized I could use the top "T" as the middle "T" in JUSTICE. Perfect.

There can never be Justice without Trust & Truth.

May there be Justice for Nolan Wells and so many others, so many others. 

*A note about the outcome aesthetically: I intentionally used black floss, as I wanted it bold, obvious and representative of people of color. I did not want to use the same blues or anything calmer like that. However, as it's stitched I am not to wild about my spacing and the fact that ICE jumps out at me. I wish that I'd pushed the "S" and the "I" a bit closer to center. But, then I thought, maybe ICE should pop out...to represent those being oppressed by ICE right now. Thoughts, always more thoughts. I may still add a double strand of deep brown into JUSTICE.

*Note: Read about the history of The Department of Justice. ...how and why it was born...What will the future hold?

Shopping day canyon drive...the tree there held beautiful berries, shining in the sun. We decided that this must be what we've been seeing in coyote scat on the trails.

I've begun the "purple" Glue Book. I thought it was going to be very tricky, as I started off with very few images etc.  I rummaged around through everything and the pile has grown! This is a small collection shown.

I'm going to warp the little loom and crack open a glue stick...retreat and consider what does Justice look like? How can it be made possible for all?

How do we promote Justice for All?

 

May you have the comfort of cloth and fiber and creative papers (or whatever)

May you have the comfort of Nature

May you have the comfort of doing what is right

xo

#goodenough

A Day For Planting

 

When I looked to the clouds, all I could notice is the dramatic colors, the light from behind and bright, cheerful blue poking through. The charcoal gray, the bright white...living together in the sky.

Gladys Knight "The Way We Were" (1974)

LINK 4:25 minutes

I love when treats like this video pop up for me. Wonderful.

We went to hike at the trail on the left side of "Same Rock, Found Twice" trail...the trail where I planted one of the very first CMB, where I planted last October - when two Jack-o-Lanterns sat deep on the trail, and where I collected acorns for Peggy years and years ago. It was beautiful out there today.

The CMB count is up to 109! I have 9 more tagged up and ready to go. I wonder where they will end up?

These cut pieces of wood, which we discovered on a previous walk, are aging beautifully. Aren't we all, eh?!! I noticed the lines, very faint rings, hole and the way the bark is separating from the wood.

The walk took place in late afternoon (again), so the light was something to behold. I planted one CMB and then much further down the trail, I planted a second one. Woodpeckers called out and knocked, knocked, knocked against the bare bones of tall trees.

Dry and lush green, comfortable until the sun popped out from behind the cotton puff clouds...and oodles of annoying bugs pestering us. I got yet another bite. sigh. 

Anyway, I was mesmerized by the shades of green in the thick green area along the dry river ravine.

There was a wandering of eyes...looking skyward, looking down the trail, looking at individual trees and their leaves. I picked up two teeny special rocks that may go out in CMB on another day. I appreciate so much to see.

On the way back out, I enjoyed the lowering sun through the leaves, the thick branches of a majestic oak and the shining, dancing grasses - amber waves of grain?! Ha

These are the steps I can take as I step out into nature and take a break from the awful news of the day.

How do you hold the positive in trying times?

 

May you find ways to step out

May you look in all directions

May you take home the goodness in your heart

xo

#goodenough

Globes, Whips, Hats and Wood Art - Oh My!

 The local outdoor area of the mall has this lovely ponds area, filled with fish and turtles...and one large bear. In the top photo, the smaller turtle had swam very quickly over to the larger one. Why? There are signs to be kind...signs to not touch or feed the turtles. A woman sat at the edge of the pond, petting a turtle. I noticed that the turtles seem to want to 'dogpile' on top of one another. Who knew? Also, they hang on the edges, the sides - being still in the sun. I could do well as a turtle. 

How London’s Rarest Crafts Are Still Made Today | Made In | Condé Nast Traveler

LINK 22:56 minutes

Wow, what an informative and fascinating video. I love how you can learn about new things with ease...things one never knew existed. 

City Park walk = bird viewing, glaring sun...and then on the canyon drive, someone had dumped cactus pieces roadside. These chopped up pieces held such a violent end in my eyes, especially when dumped by the side of the road like this. Who thinks this is the way to care for plants?

Late river - bridge walk yesterday. We liked the light at this time of day and the animal activity...a small 12 inch garter snake and bevy of quails running down the path, gathering on the fence...playing follow the leader! The tips of the trees shimmered and the long shadows made bridge photos even more special.

The shades of gray mountains reminded me of Medicine Bags, both undulating and Alpaca grays. I wonder...(voice trails off).

I finally made the "Free" tags for these 9 CMB's. Now if I just remember to take them with me to plant them. Their colors are both joyful and calming.

What have you been doing or avoiding to do?

 

May you kick it in gear now and then

May you go easy on yourself when you do nothing

May you enjoy your days, however they look

xo

#goodenough