A Sunday Recap

A photo you have to imagine!

While driving home last week, about 8, maybe, riders were crossing the road in front of me. I literally had to stop in the middle of the road, which is why you see this shaky photo...I was nervous that someone would come up from behind and not realize that I was stopped!

Made my night!

On Saturday, I had to drive back in for my flu shot, which ended in a big bruise! Geez.

There was so much traffic on one stretch  of my weekday streets...plus, every 25 feet or closer there were pop-ups selling every kind of Mexican food, fruits, iced treats...clothing, tools, bikes...you name it! There was people walking, driving, riding bikes...everywhere!

There was no way I could really describe, or get a photo, but the ones (all at the same stoplight) below shows some of the feel of cars, city street, minus everything mentioned above.

It was visually exhausting.

It was a lot, for me.

But then...

Driving home, I took a detour to discover this trailhead and came home to explore the view from up there.

It overlooks the San Fernando Valley, from the North end. This is where I normally see the horseback riders heading to or from. I had no idea there was so much action up there. I've yet to figure out if there is a trailhead you can drive/park at. The photos in the link show "The Valley" - and you can see The 5 Freeway etc. There are actually some nice overview pics. Also, from the Placerita Canyon hike (near that old fireplace), there are trails that you can hike all of the way over the mountain, I presume to this area. Cool.

However, we won't be doing that anytime soon, if ever, much as we wanted to in 2021.

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While heading out to The Valley, I saw a sign on a neighborhood house: "Fabric & Quilt Sale".  So, although I don't need a thing...I stopped to have a look. It turns out it was a local Guild event. Santa Clarita Valley Quilt Guild. They had tons for sale...fabrics by the pound! There were kits, finished products, table-top ironing boards (which could be handy, if I had a table to put it on!). There was a bit of everything, including lots of Guild Ladies, wearing quilting related pins and other trinkets. I felt like I'd entered another world! ha Anyway, I kept thinking of Grace's recent log cabin and a piece of cloth that is in need of repair...and though I wasn't going to, I did. I picked out a few bits (even a 'red' one! So not my color) and placed them in the box on the scale. $1.50 worth, but neither of us had change, she only wanted one dollar. Then I was directed to the "free" box and saw a bag with 2.5 inch squares! I took another 5 bucks and bought 6 raffle tickets for the charity quilt. They support many local causes. Nice.

I'm pretty sure I didn't/won't win, that kinda wasn't the point. I mostly though J. might like the bright colors, but since it is so large, I'd have donated it to a worthy cause anyway.

Pretty though, even if totally out of my normal tastes. I think I was just in the moment.

I forgot my standard smell test though and these lil pieces are quite perfumed for me. I'll have to wash by hand. The bigger pieces went in today's laundry. I wonder what I'll do with these?

I went to check out the Guild website and while poking around there, I came across Karen Eckmeier of The Quilted Lizard Fiber Art Studio and spent some time at her web page poking around. I noticed her Lizards in the name and in patterns and thought of Grace. I saw her landscapes and thought of Liz. I saw her cities and thought of Dee. 🙂

I was welcomed home by this lil guy!

9-15 Thursday Trust Time

This week, there was too much happening on the road, my mind was jumpy...so, parked at work, eyes closed, inhale, exhale...so trust...

What came to mind first was Sarita and her two comment/posts...I thought of "us"...all of us...

how trust is given, received, responded to...

the very real humanity of that

I celebrated Season with photos at the grocery store. 

As I head towards the close of this post, I'll circle back around to my commuting. 

I started writing down some repeating things I witness last week:

3 accidents, 3 police events, 1 building fire, about 11 horseback riders

I thought about Deb G and her old "field notes".

What if I did that?

woman human being hands locked behind head, staring through chainlink fence, surrounding an empty cement lot

man human being 'walking' while sitting in wheelchair, while pushing full cart, dog on leash

man human being sitting on bus bench, toothless mouth talking to no one seen

man human being sitting on bus bench, slumped forward, head in hands, dispair

woman human being standing in gutter, clothing thin, making sweeping motions in street dirt, using a cloth as a broom?

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I've watched some of the events celebrating the Queen, her life and death. This inspired me to look through my England scrapbook, from a trip my mom and I took in 2002. I love looking at us. 

May you live as you need to

May you celebrate or mourn as you need to

May you remember the fun and the humanity of it all

xo

Photographs by NAE ©2022

The Days Roll By

Above is the mystery plant for this post. It grows in the corner of the courtyard. After it gets nice and tall like this, the gardeners seem to wack it down, only to have it grow back up again. Now that's resilience!

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I re-read, again, "My Peaceful Forest" by Elaine Breen this week.

It is such a delightful, dreamy, wish I was there read for me. the last time we were in Pacific Grove, we ate at Toasties, just as she mentions in her book (and I didn't even have the book yet!). I bought the book in the small local grocery store, Grove Market. I saw it in a rack near the door and had to make a purchase. at $11.95 back then, it proved to be money well spent!

After reading it this time, I finally looked up the author, only to discover that she passed away this year.

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We had a good, old fashioned storm recently. The freeway traffic was quite respectful of the weather (for once) and drove very, very slowly! I was glad when it stopped, even if we need it. Many streets in The Valley flood in the slightest rain, so this was a lot!

After the storm, the sunrises have been glorious and super bright in my eyes! Brighter than I recall.

So, I look to the sky, as I drive, on lunch breaks...I look.

I reside in the moment, thoughts begun...time rolling on.

Things begun, started, partially woven...

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After the recent 'hands' conversations and my posting of the Dream Rocket page...

I went to sleep with the thought of hands and what that has meant to me over the years. 

Photographs of loved one's hands in mine

Things that matter.

Things that define me, to me

I landed on:

The Sacred and The Inspired

scent of sage in the hills ~ sounds of a bamboo wind chime ~ sharing ~ music, so much music ~ books and children's quality literature ~ 

...so many ideas, formed in my dream, the post completely written and Hazel wrote one too. We wrote of hands and the Sacred and Inspired. I don't recall the rest of my post or any of Hazel's, but it was a lovely dream!

A beautiful new fence/gate.

Was it a giant owl in the tree...nah!

I never tire of the color of leaves against a blue sky.

Or finding faces in the funniest places!

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I listened to the NPR story below and got so curious to SEE and HEAR more about these curious pigeon whistles. I'm curious about the birds perspective about this practice. You can discover for yourself how they look and sound:

NPR STORY

 CHINA TODAY

AUDIO

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Found this, in an old email draft: 

I remember back when

I had hair and cartilage

But I was real young

And had no knowledge

What was I thinking?

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I never tire of bird silhouettes against a morning sky. 

Through the Seasons, may you look and find something cool!

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2021