Being A Maker

 

Outside of the local Mexican restaurant

a line of once used perfect circles in the asphalt

now hold hope 

How can we call them weeds

as if they are anything less than 

miraculous!

I've been busy with the spiral bound new glue book. As I said before, the pages may not be done when photographed, as they are ever evolving. If you look back, you will see I've added to the pages shown above. In the first pic, I love how the quote and the birds in the water photo perfectly complemented the page I'd already done (on the right side). 

It's hard for me to get nice, clear photos...but I think you get the idea. I've added more words and silliness than I had planned at first, but which feels just right as of now. Pretty sure you won't find a gorgeous Cardinal in a field of SoCal poppies...but that's the point: it is meant for fun and beauty...inspiration and more. I'm not sure if the pages are complete yet. Time will tell.

 At this point, I ended up creating about 65 pages. There are still some blank one and some that have an empty side. There seems to always be space for more, even on a page that seems complete. I like that door left open.

I also added two pages into the lil pink book. That baby had been waiting a long time to get glued down! And the sky-blue-pink murmuration...well, we all know how I love sky-blue-pink skies!

Something wonderful arrived in the mail today. More on that soon...

What do you want to create? 

 

May you keep your hands busy

May you keep your heart full

May you give and receive 

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

I Went Away

 

Joshua Tree, CA ©2011

Away I went, into old photos in search of a few in particular...and what joy in finding the one above. I always liked this shot and the fact that I left the people in, allowing them to add so much to the overall feel. There were so many folks there appreciating the sunset. We did too.

Then I went away on a you tube video trip. This time going someplace I will never see in person. It was beautiful. The cherry trees are something else!

A quiet road trip through western Norway

LINK 20:44 minutes

On the other hand, today I went away to take a small walk at the Little Free Library trail. The last time we were there it was filled with goats making an easy task of clearing brush on the hillsides.

I Still Have No Idea

LINK 14:32 minutes

The hills before us on the road were lush, a variety of butterflies and dragonflies were everywhere...a large raven(?) and turkey vultures (above)...warmth on the back of my neck...a place to relax.

 The purple sage was in glorious bloom and smelled so good! The evidence of the goat's work was obvious.

Today I think: thank goodness for nature and art. Both have the capacity to soothe and teach, for they both are reliably always there (soothing), but also always changing (teaching). This is a good balance for me.

What things support you when you need it? 

 

May you allow yourself to be taught

May you embrace being soothed when needed

May you hold what is important to you in heart & hand

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

Up The Canyon of Yuccas

 After watching the video below, I was inspired to head up the canyon. We haven't been this way since October 2025...so, 6.5 months later, it was time. I have been watching the Yuccas blooming at the bridge and wanted to see the large group of them that bloom in the riverbed up there. They are quite the pokey plant!

The St. Francis Dam Disaster: Visiting the Ruins of the 1928 Catastrophe

LINK 15:07 minutes

It was beautiful there, just like last Fall. New words, symbols and phrases were scattered along the old paved road. Some of the old ones sit - fading in the bright sun. There were a lot which spoke to the majority opinion about the current administration and Nazis in general. Anyway, it was a relief to see. But, I'm not sure about the TV in the enjoy life message though! hahaI got a smile out of the old road sign, still standing on the long-time, out of use road. 

A quite warm day...sun overhead, plants and rocks shining in the afternoon light. The river was very dry, making it hard to visualize how so much water could pour down the canyon when the damn broke.

Chalk Dudleya

On the way out of the canyon, we stop to see the vast grouping of yuccas in the riverbed. There is also an abundance of mustard as well. Thanks to Dana, I went on a journey of discovery about "Brassicas" - which evidently is part of the mustard family. Interesting. I'll think of this on our future walks & drives when we see the wild mustard.

When we arrived, there was a gentleman set up in the parking area, selling cold sodas and waters. We chatted for a few minutes and then grabbed a soda on the way out. Well, well, what do you think of that?!!

Where would you like to go that you have not been to in a long time? 

 

May you return to awesome places

May you continue to learn

May you grab the little moments

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

Peacefulness Ties Them Together

 

88°...felt much hotter though.

Leaves fade, twirling towards the ground

Meet the artist who embraced the slow art of sewing after an illness

LINK 8 minutes

At the bridge today, I was surprised by how much the riverbed had changed since we were there on October 10th. Where once we could see gobs of green growth over the water, we now see the river flowing and lots of the riverbed exposed. We had a big rainstorm on the 14th, and today we could see how washed out things had gotten.

Right away we saw a coyote meandering through the riverbed...strolling through the water...back and forth. It looked very healthy - at a good weight and all.

A BOTTOMLESS RESERVOIR OF JOY | Short Documentary

LINK 5:41 minutes

So much water flowing towards the sea. The darkening clouds provided beautiful light on the Fall leaves.

A bumblebee´s Paradise

LINK 16:48 minutes

After the moments of trying to stay informed, I escape to videos like these. Art, nature...peacefulness. I escape to making something or another. I give (leave) gifts, which not only brings me joy...but hopefully spreads that joy around a bit. I find ways to get through.

I had gathered red, white, and black tid-bits to make this art stick. After working on it a bit, my energy for it ran dry. So, I added some more bits for the making and left it with an offering for the whoever finds it to continue on. The other side of the larger tag reads "Free Enjoy", as usual. I hope it brightens someones day.

There was a woman at the bridge today, arrived when we did...she took a small journal and stood out in the brush, facing the bridge. I couldn't be sure, but it looked like she was sketching what she saw. I wonder if she saw the coyote down there? On our way out, as she walked in front of us, she paused to look and the plant life and to pick up a leaf. I kind of wished the lil art stick had already been planted, as she seemed like one who could appreciate such things. Anyway, I do hope it is found and embraced.

"Add your own treasures" & "May every knot, twist of the braid...every button or bead hold peace, health and love"

Last, but not least...I added some 'compassion' to the word cloth, as I am still considering what Beth from Still Life Pond questioned about empathy VS compassion. Something I want to ponder long term.

What surprises you or steadies you?

 

May you do what feels good to you and others

May you bask in season

May you catch glimpses of other worlds

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2025

Coming Home

 

The Metta Meditation Scroll is done (for now?). I backed it with an old flannel sheet ins a very similar color as the muslin. I wanted the words to stay center stage, stay the focus for now. I may or may not change my mind later. I'm really glad I decided to do this, as the added weight makes it much easier to handle and will keep it around longer. And I seem to need it around right now. This scroll and my Word Cloth are never far from my seat on the couch. I'm still considering Dee's post on "home" and I am thinking, maybe these are 'home' for me these days.

Yesterday at the bridge it was fairly quiet...the event over and all of their celebratory banners and flags long gone. But, the treasures I'd left were mostly still there, the crows were there - 4-5 of them on the bridge itself and the mummy toad we've been watching is still there too. The ants have covered and uncovered it. It is dried and motionless, its small 'fingers' posed in time. The hawk nest is now empty. The water silently flows, the green grows. I consider how this place has become 'home' to me and I am grateful.

I came across this quote weeks ago kept forgetting to post it. Today when I finally remember, the swallows are gone and hope may have flown off with them.

Not a swallow in sight, just empty nests and the ground, fencing and slanted bank of the wash covered in swallow droppings. I mean Covered! This led us to wonder many things. what happens to their mud nests if they've flown on? Will they return here soon or next year? Were there babies old enough to fly on? Where will their next home be?

Just since our last walk a week ago, the cattails have completely formed. They stand thick and brown-topped, dancing in the breeze. We couldn't believe the change in such a short time. Between the cattails and the lack of swallows, I really got the message that time is flying by!

I saw this last week, but did not bend down low to get a better look. This week I remembered to show J. and ask him what he thought...a praying mantis egg case! Grace...can you believe it?! I did not see any sign of the insects themselves, jsut the egg case, tucked under the wood fence rail. Imagine that. 

We tossed a rock or two in the water to see if there were any pollywogs, but did not see any. we did see dragonflies, flying low. We learned that dragonflies eat pollywogs at times. There were dragonflies at Placerita too.

Last for today, I finally sewed some more on J.'s over shirt. It is kind of a pain and I had discovered that there is way more fraying and disintegration than can really be addressed. We've decided that I will do what I can, and he'll wear it til he can't. Good solution.

What do you consider home?

 

May you become familiar within a place 

May you become comfortable within many spaces

May you carry home in your heart

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2025