A Story

 I've been thinking a lot about stories lately. The ones we tell, the ones we hear. The ones we tell ourselves when we need them or the ones we tell ourselves, but are not all that helpful.

This has become a story, stitched on leather. I've stitched and given away many of these, each one different. Something that I've noticed is that between the first one and the most recent ones, the stories have become richer, fuller...holding more symbols.

This one will go out as a bookmark in the wonderful Crow and Weasel by: Barry Lopez

BTW~ The two funny looking things on the right side of the mountains are Meadowlark feathers, her favorite bird. Well, or my clumsy interpretation of them, due to my best guess and online research. The yellow one looks like a banana to me 😂

I've made a little Record of Symbols that I've used on the leather pieces. I wonder what symbol will come to me next?

I was inspired to paint today. This is the first step. More to come.

It was super hot here today, over 100 degrees. Hot enough to stay inside and play.

What kind of making has become your favorite to do? How do you see your making style?

 

May you evolve your familiar making

May you try new kinds of making

May you keep a record

xo

#goodenough

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

Days of Doing

 

A horrible photo...but I wanted to remember. When I stepped out of the car out front, I was smitten with the abundance of scent from this rose bush. Most of the roses out there don't have much of a scent at all, so this was a real treat. If you know and love the scent of roses...close your eyes and imagine.

An oak tree with 'galls' in it and another tree full of fruit? of some kind. The grocery day drive always provides something of interest to see.

Today I thought a lot about the things that hold a "fine line" between them. It's a fine line between...support and enabling...between acceptance and giving up...between...(there were many more that have since slipped my mind...what would you add?) 

You get the idea.

I've been doing different kinds of playing and making - all at once, going from thing to thing to just play. This drawing started because I wanted to cover up a failed pencil drawing (from a photo) that I'd done months ago. There was no way to salvage it and trying to erase lines made it worse, so I did this using colored pencils and sharpie markers. The colored markers bled through a lot. I'd forgotten I had something on the other side (a drawing of creatures from a dream), so I just traced over those pencil lines with a fine marker and called it good enough. This journal book is lasting me a long, long time. I like that.

I completed the stitching on leather that I've been working on. I really love the feel of this leather in my hands...and it smells so good too. The middle pic shows one of my new symbols: a cairn. It's a bit wonky, but that's okay. I have another leather stitching to work on soon, which will be similar to this one (but not the same, by any means).

I do have two other leather stitching ideas, but I plan to take it slow because even though I have tricks making it easier to stitch through the leather, it still remains kinda tough on the old hands. Anyway, I'm in no hurry.

I've also been considering the idea of: The Stories I Come Back To. As I age, it seems that I return again and again to some of the same life stories. Why? Does it even matter? Is it an age thing where one only holds onto so much, while the extra stories slip away? It has also occurred to me that some of these same old, favorite stories may not even be known to my children/grandchildren. These are the stories that surprised me, touched me, scared me or made me feel brave among other things. I thought about the idea that maybe these are the things that I should write down? Some are here on the blog, but how long will this last. Does it matter? Lots of thoughts.

Tonight I finally broke into a lovely gift of watercolor paints/paper/brushes (thank you Dana!). I can tell there will be a learning curve!! My plan had been to start by swatching the colors and then while coloring the other night (and watching a boatload of art/journal/stationary videos), I decided that I would swatch everything I have in one of the small 'mixed media' books I have. I've already done this with my intense pencils in another book, but I think I will put them all in one book. I will also add the set of Caran D'Ache Neocolor II Set, also a gift (thanks Deb L). And I will add other pencil/pen sets or individuals to identify the colors and line sizes.  Hopefully this will help me keep track and get better acquainted with these tools. If not, it will still be fun.

So, I started there tonight with the paints. I still have to figure out the beautiful paper I was given and loads about the use of watercolors (I still just paint like I'm with young children using cheap school paints! haha).

The other projects painted were some paper projects I had been working on with an old pad of watercolor paper (very thick). I really just wanted to play and get the feel for this...and let the paints flow. I had fun.

What have you played with lately?

 

May you stop and smell the roses

May you love the trees

May you become the maker you wish to be 

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

Rain Makes Green

 

Things are blooming like crazy...everything is green. Each tree or bush growing in its own way. As seen in my last post, one cottonwood at the bridge is just getting its leaves, while others are full and have masses of cotton seed fluff. It is so warm, bright and uplifting. 

But, tonight...it is pouring rain. It's been raining since late afternoon. It should be very green the next time we head out!

The Most BEAUTIFUL MELODY IN HISTORY

LINK 25:18 minutes

My little green mini-composition book is possibly complete. I've added several new pages, especially since I received a gift envelope in the mail, stuffed full of a wide variety of "papers" to use in my new collage explorations (thanks Beth!).  I pulled out the greens first...but have already seen some other great pieces that really caught my eye. Yay!

I love hot air balloons from my days in Northern Nevada (more of the story is here). They used to land in the cow pastures right across the street from our lil tri-plex. Some of the pages in this book have meaning, many do not. A lot of different factors went into how or why I created them (and the pages in the other color books too) as they are. I've looked at them all so many times. I've actually found it quite calming, sort of centering.

It has become quite chunky...a fat little packet of goodness. Here is a short stroll through some of the pages...

I've enjoyed this so much...really got lost in the process. Looking forward to more play time.

How do you like to spend rainy days?

May you get and give gifts

May your gifts be tangible, or not

May you celebrate the gift you get when giving yourself

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

Symbols and Gifts

 

It's remains hot. Heat warning kind of hot. Our last stop at the bridge, we saw a small group of people playing in the river, building a small damn, digging and searching in the mud and water and moving about. They had a Frenchie and a Pug and looked to be having such a relaxing time.

The owl was sitting and the crows were flying, twigs in beaks, because...a pair of crows were building a nest! I had a feeling that they would be doing this soon, due to our last visit and  seeing them landing on the top of the bridge.

I finished all of my weaving and stitching and Power Stick making and mailed them off. This was a super special time of making and gifting. 

For my stitching, I did some research...

about Pentagons...

about Pentagons inside a circle: (AI answer)

A pentagon in a circle symbolizes harmony, balance, and the protection of the five elements (earth, air, fire, water, and spirit) unified within the universe. Historically used by Pythagoreans for health and identity, this symbol often represents the microcosm, connecting humanity to the cosmos.

And I did some research...

about finding one's "True North", in the spiritual sense. You can read some HERE (just the beginning of the story - no subscription, but confirmed my thoughts).

I really enjoyed this kind of storytelling and the symbols that arose.

I'm also still working in my mini glue book. Where my weaving and leather stitching and Power Stick making is deeply infused with deep meaning, the gluing is just for silly fun. I've dug around for papers to use for "background" and started two new little books. Very relaxing.

First the background, then the layers...

The piece with the two chairs is unbelievably old. I'm glad it has finally found a new home. I'm not sure if this page is done. I may add some words.

What do you want to do next?

 

May you gift with love

May you give to others

May you give to yourself

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

Post Office Day

 

18-YEAR-OLD MOLLY SCHAEFER SPENT 6O0HOURS PAINTING

LINK 1:05 minutes

Don't ya love this story...and the connection to Theo of Golden?! I've been watching so many art making videos, but I'm trying to hold off starting anything new, while I work on things I've got going.

Today was a Post Office day. I mailed off some books and other gifts and goodies. I'm super excited to share these items. I sent the book created with the Kindergarten group and those created with the Infant & Toddler classroom, along with a couple of others. I'm so happy to share the books and their stories with my grandchildren. One of the books I sent is seen below. I've had this book since college. I loved it so much at the time. I thought the theme was strong, the illustrations amazing and the lessons valid. Of course, in 2026 I would be including conversations regarding labels, kindness and problem solving through collaboration. At 18 years old, I didn't think quite that deep about it. I still think it has the potential to be a meaningful addition to growth and learning during current times.

War and Peas by Michael Foreman

LINK 4:17 minutes

In reading it again (I always reread every book I send their way!), I read the back jacket flap and was curious about the author's other book. I easily found this reading of it to share here. Still timely as well. It really makes one wonder when humans will ever learn?!!

Dinosaurs and all that rubbish | Full Story | Bedtime Stories

LINK 5:28 minutes

The last Medicine Bag is in the mail and I've prepped a basket with selections for the next one. It is hard to put into words how much I love this part of the process. I sat on my bed with all of my yarns spread out around me. Thinking about the recipient for this weaving...thinking about the yarn colors and how they look side-by-side and the meaning for each color chosen.  Some of these may not end up in the Medicine Bag, but it is the process that thrills me, including thinking about this particular person and weaving with love and care.

How have your impressions about certain books changed? Stayed the same?

 

May you find that thrill in the best places

May you read and read again

May you weave a good life

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

# 13

 

"Today is going to be my peaceful day"

Photo Source

#13 - Valencia Heritage Park...lots of open grass playing fields, climbing structure and so on. I'm noticing the city seems to have this park building down to a science. Each one has some of the same features and are very family friendly. There were a lot of adults and children at the climbing structure and a group of children at the picnic tables learning about self-regulation (I've taken to disappearing folks out of the photos). There was a Great Dane and its person enjoying the open grass. Otherwise, it was pretty quiet. 

Perfect temperature, bluest of skies...just right...and a big bush of those red berries from memories of my childhood apartment life.

Along the trail we discovered next to the park, there were lots of fallen oak leaves and Cottonwood trees...2 small shells that came from where? Plants with spiky hairdos...a teeny lizard and more.

After the missing Cottonwood at the bridge yesterday, I was quite enamored with these big gnarly trees standing in the riverbed. We think this is a tributary to the Santa Clara river, which flows at the bridge. There are simply trails everywhere! Bits and pieces, I'm seeing a lot of it all. The photos really don't do these old ones justice, nor the wide expanse of sandy soil that makes up this waterway. It is a much more wide open view than we see at the bridge.

Big riverbed, big sky...open heart. I'm grateful that we keep bumping into the river as we explore the parks.

A Heritage Bear?

There are many of these art bears throughout the city. I remembering photographing one of them by the mall many years ago. A few are placed in places that are harder to get to. This one honors the history of this area. The nose had much of its images rubbed off, by the children I assume (it is placed near the climbing structure). It is respectful of this place, filled with history and charming.

I've completed the gift Medicine Bag, coral & purple. Such lovely colors together. I also completed another one late last year. Pinks and dusty green (a bit hard to tell in this pic). Sweet.

What do you want to do in the moment?

May you live with love

May you live with compassion

May you live in peace

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026