more than anything

a smile found on the sidewalk of my city

while standing in the bathroom and facing the mirror after meeting with a. on tuesday morning she came to me - affirming what i'm currently claiming - and said, "more than anything, more than any thing, i want you to have your joy, my gemmie. more. than. anything."
with tears rising and rushing forward i told her, "i know. i know..."
i'm claiming my joy. what are you claiming?

two songs for saturday morning

this one:


and this one (thank you for introducing me to this one, joanne):

the goods: list 7

• my inHERview with pen*.
• i voted for this dream assignment - i voted for hope - here. care to join me/us? go here.
  Shutter Sisters Dream Assignment: Picture Hope from LittlePurpleCow Productions on Vimeo.
• this photo.
• making a playlist. my current playlist is posted at the bottom of this page - scroll (all the way) down.
• listening to her new cd over and over and over again and again and...
  
• The Hidden Seed. read Elsita's "The Story Behind This Blog" - she invites us to celebrate life, to love ourselves & be excited about being who we are. i heart her post on BLUE.
  
• - i enjoyed this read.
• these photos by LeSophie. yellow, green, blue - i want to sink into this scrumptiousness.
  
• attracting yummy things* - a brilliant post by Boho Girl. tell me: what yummy things are you attracting?!
• a happy sun*shine friday.
• looking forward to: a bodywork appointment tomorrow afternoon; spending nourishing girl time with a soul*sister, t., tomorrow evening; and, sunday lunch with two other locals who are attending SAW/Squam Art Workshops in september! i'd love to know: what are you looking forward to?

inHERview: pen*

today's inHERview is with pen*.
i don't remember how i found pen*? how our paths crossed in the blogosphere?
this doesn't matter.
what matters is this - in finding pen* i encountered a kindred spirit.

i think she's someone you would very, very, very much like to know.
she is a brave creator livin' a life of love - a life of making a difference.

while preparing to post this inHERview i thought about the chalked words i magically discovered today, "sing a happy song."
this inHERview with pen* is just this - a tender & gorgeous being singing a happy song.
lovely pen*, thank you for singing your song for all of us to enjoy!

Who are you?
my name is pen* and I've been a nomad, both literally and figuratively, for some time...however, more recently I have been yearning to grow some roots, and feel now is the time ripe for commitment.

Where can we find you?
most likely tapping away on my laptop, in ye old english cottage, snuggled up on the sofa with my boys (dogs) on either side of me...the end result of such endeavours are generally found here or here or even here.

What is your motto for living? Or, what's on the bumper sticker of your life?
life's meaning is love's magic...this was actually written on a bookmark i had years and years and years ago (!) and it's always stuck...

How do you spend your days?
i work part time as an offender manager with adults on probation (parole) and, spend the remainder of time, marinating in creativity.

How do you spend your nights?
during the work week, i generally try and pretend to be nigella lawson for half an hour in the kitchen rustling up dinner, whilst cam walks the boys. after which, i usually lose myself on the computer whilst cam serenades me on the guitar...

occasionally we may both do something useful like a little bit of cleaning, or a spot of laundry, but not nearly as often as we should!

How do you spend your weekends?
the perfect weekend would be one long love-treat with my, out-of-this-world-amazing, husband and our little fur babies. long walks, picnics, laughs and cuddles...bliss.

How do you define your tribe?
coming together...a work in progress.

What makes your heart sing?
real people. originality. the human spirit. love in action. the written word. hearing my dogs snore in their sleep...

What do you care about?
i care about people, particularly the disenfranchised. i care about the injustice which surrounds me and the choices our governments make in our name.

i care deeply about my friends, my family.

What nourishes you?
my husband. blogs. spring flowers. fresh sheets. my camera.

or simply, as i read on a mug somewhere: "happiness is a cup of tea and a new magazine"

Where and/or when do you feel most at home?
by the sea...i think i may have been a mermaid previously.

in my husband's arms...it's like we were made for each other.

at night, when the world around me is sleeping...i feel brave enough to come alive.

What is one question (in your life/journey) you are currently answering?
how can i make a difference?

What dream are you dreaming right now?
i am wildly excited about a new project i have germinating, which revolves around the idea of creative workshops for disadvantaged young women.

What are you celebrating right now?
this. right here, right now. sharing this space with you.

What does spring mean to you?
wow. where do i begin? spring is my absolute favourite season. it truly marks the new year. an opportunity for a fresh start and new beginnings...i love how the arrival of spring tips the balance in favour of light over dark...how gardeners plant bulbs that will be delighting us in the months to come...all around, you see magic sprouting...little buds slowly blossoming...splashes of colour appearing...the sun comes out to play a little more often, and so do i...it's a wondrously inspiring time.

If you were to "tell the world just one thing" (as Jewel sings) what would that "one thing" be?
yes we can.



i chose this because i felt it encapsulated where i am and where i am heading right now...i hope the other photographers won't mind me using their images, and i have included their photo credits below!

photo credit: 1. schmoopy girl*, 2. Untitled, 3. jen_gray_squam, 4. restful, 5. love 52, 6. * inner muse

dearest M

dearest ,

thank you, thank you, thank you for our visit.

we share the same name & this dear sister, as you know, is only the beginning of what we share.

when we met in the late 90s (hee-hee!) at that campground close to mount hood we/our spirits knew instantly - we go together like peanut butter & jelly - hand in hand. this meeting of sisters - long, long before the (recent) years when you said, "my life is like a Lifetime movie." and i thought, "my life is a bit like a Hallmark movie."

nearly 12 years continues to grow into visions of sitting beside one another - arms linked - when we are in our 90s.

when close to each other we spend most of our time with our arms linked together; being oh so silly; laughing, laughing, laughing; taking care of one another; snugglin' & huggin'; spilling truth after truth after truth; talking into tomorrow; and, enjoying chocolate, wine, coffee & tea treats.

this visit i rose & lightened in your presence. i claimed what's been blooming in my heart & life - ease; joy, joy, joy; healing & being in my body; being ready & available to find my partner & create home/life with another; singin' & swingin'; and, letting go of unnecessary weight & darkness. our visit came at the perfect, divine time - the spring equinox.

thank you for sharing these (additional) high*lights: asking me to officiate your & A's commitment ceremony next summer; meeting & spending the afternoon with Mohammed; making two batches of your home*made & love*made guacamole - one for our visit & one for me to enjoy after you caught your plane back to wyoming; crossing paths with two of my city sisters; reading the newspaper while sippin' cups o' coffee & tea; people watching; cooking together; and, listening to live music - her music & his music & his voice.

i love you, M.

always,
gem

the goods: list 6

• pretending until we're not pretending anymore by Kelly Rae.
• better people. thank you, darling pen*.
• the video, "Ordinary Sparkling Moments", by Christine Mason Miller:
• this post by Superhero Andrea Scher resonates & connects with essential aspects of where i am in my journey - creating balance, cultivating community & grounding in the real.
• "Kandi" a tune by One EskimO. thank you for introducing me to this song, Susannah.
• the arrival of a beloved (from wyoming!). i scoop her up at the train station in 3 hours. we will share nearly 48 hours of soul*sister time. let the laughin' & chattin' & sippin' cups o' tea (for me) and coffee (for her) & makin' o' mexican food & drinkin' o' wine & listenin' to live music begin! exhale...
• the next inHERview is coming up!
  

this mid-march weekend i...

• chose the winner of the blossoming give*away! to all who entered & shared what is blossoming in your journey, please know that i received in my heart each & every word. i am wildly inspired by each of you. now for the winner...the winner is: Michele!
  
• tucked myself into bed on friday night by 9:30 p.m. & enjoyed a bliss*full night of sleep.
• made home*made st. patrick's day cards for my momma & poppa.
• posted another "the goods" list.
• shared a day in the city with my momma. we ate french toast with bananas & nutella; a cheddar, bacon & apple scramble with sweet potato fries on the side; and, pizza from our favorite spot. we drank fresh squeezed orange juice & chai tea. we walked & walked & walked. we giggled & shared stories. we enjoyed seeing many members (the irish!) of our tribe wearing green & being merry. {my momma is 100% irish & she loves being irish & she gave this to her children - as well as her irish maiden name which is the middle name of her three chicks.} we had manicures & pedicures - my toes are a deep aqua & my fingers are a sparkly pink. we shopped & i bought this dress.
• packed up an overnight bag for sleeping across the river at my parents' home on saturday night.
• went for a walk with my momma & our fam's/my parents' doggie dear.
• knitted.
• watched an incredibly moving film, Taking Chance.
• voted.
• read a sweet & colorful piece of bella's writing, which my momma had found & hung on my parents' refrigerator door. the title of this piece is: "Who I Am." bella wrote about traveling the world, loving making people laugh, playing in the ocean... oh, i do hope & trust you have your very own kind of bella*love. i do. i do. i do. one thing i know is that we are all at the root/the source bella*like: full of light, love, laughter, generosity... how amazing is this?! lucky, lucky, lucky me & you & us.
• watched this video - discovered here.
• made corn bread muffins.
• looking forward to a nourishing sunday evening & night...
  

the goods: list 5

• a blossoming give*away from yours truly - read more here & enter to win a gem parcel!
• i heart comments. every. single. one. of. 'em. thank you, thank you, thank you...
  
• this "Sprung" post by Magpie Girl. i love that li'l doggie dear face & the art & the questions!
  
• this post by Jen Lemen. go here if you need encouragement or if you simply need this reminding: the earth is holding you, take good care of you (the world needs you to take care of you so that you are available & ready take care of the world) & move/be in motion - even if it's just a wee step (or allow another to move for you or give you a piggy back ride!).
• Everyone Is Beautiful (text by Katherine Center and photography & design by Mary Swenson):
• listening to "Unbelievable" (over & over again) by Sleepy Rebels:

top ten "t" words

Le Sophie gave me the letter "t" & i chose my top ten favorite "t" words.

definitions found here.

01. talisman: something with magical powers; something that produces extraordinary results. here are a few of my somethings with magical powers - my owls (ollie, wynne & willem); my collection of rocks & stones; and, my statues of guan yin, st. francis of assisi & mary.

02. text: the words of something written. text - read & written words are a life saving grace in my life.

03. thanksgiving: the act of giving thanks. i practice offering my thanks - again & again & again. i am grateFULL for the whole of my life & creation.

04. thread: that which runs through the whole course of something, connecting successive parts. ministering & healing & loving & creating are some of the connective threads running through my life.

05. topography: detailed, precise description of a place or region. mostly i want to know this - what is the topography of my heart? of your heart?

06. touch: to come into or be in contact with. these are some of the things that touched me today - re-reading an e-mail from my roomie at SAW in september '09; exchanging e-mails with some of bella's college buds; receiving the sunshine; and, simply being in the presence of my beloved friend, t., during our weekly tea date.

07. tribe: a large family. i honor all members of my tribe - throughout this city, state, coast, country & continent; in the world; and, in the universe (including my angels & ancestors).

08. true: real, genuine, authentic. this is one of my ministry vows (a vow i wrote) - i vow to live truth-fully - which is to say, i vow to be true.

09. tweet: a chirping sound - as of a young or small bird. this word makes me smile. it reminds me of my poppa's nickname for me when i was a wee one - magpie. he called me magpie because of my chirping/tweeting. i still tweet.

10. twirl: to spin, whirl, revolve. i heart this word. it's the kind of word that consistently lifts me up & spins me around when i need spinning/shifting. it makes me think of freedom, fresh air, arms spread wide & face lifted toward the sun.

some other "t" words:

1. tender.
2. tiny.
3. tickle.
4. translucent.
5. twinkle.
6. treasure.
7. treat.
8. thrive.
9. tangerine.
10. taste.
11. terrace.
12. tea.
13. tree.
14. territory.
15. theme.
16. theology.
17. this.
18. through.
19. tradition.
20. thunder.
21. tide.
22. tidbit.
23. toast.
24. toy.
25. today.
26. trampoline.
27. trapeze.
28. travel.
29. turn.
30. triumph.
31. trove.
32. table.
33. thirty three.

blossoming: a give*away

welcome to my second gem parcel give*away of '09!

this give*away is offered in honor of the upcoming spring equinox (in the northern hemisphere) - friday, march 20, 2009 at 7:44 a.m. EDT.

this give*away is a unique gem parcel pieced together by yours truly & sent to one very special someone. the gem parcel will contain sunshine goodness - marvelous jewels & scrumptious treats, sweet blessings & inspiring creations.

to enter to win this gem parcel all you need to do is leave me a comment with a response to the question: what is blossoming in your heart & life?

please leave your comment on this post by sunday, march 15, 2009 at 3:15 p.m. EDT.

this weekend: a string o' gratitude

a string o' inspiration on my wall

* new bathroom towels & cloths - hot pink, blue & white * a clean nest * jelly beans * wide open windows * wearing a fleece & leaving my hat, scarf & gloves at home * a 24 hour visit with a friend, dh, from college: talking at my "kitchen" table (this table is also the space where i do quite a bit of writing & art making); lunch at a new favorite restaurant; walking around the city; sitting in the park; people watching; delighting in the endless flow of reconnecting conversation; laughter; playing cards; vegetarian chinese for dinner; a sweet Lucy Kaplansky concert - i was touched by her spoken & sung words; preparing for a restful sleep in my twinkle lit nest; waking before dh, reading in my bed & appreciating the presence & the life & the breath of another; and, saying "goodbye" & "see you in june" with a thankful embrace * listening to Hallelujah & Let It Be * three loads of laundry laundered (involving 6 trips up & down 5 flights of stairs!) * a sunday afternoon & evening & night to treasure *

the goods: list 4

• exploring Orangette - a blog o' "food stories." i heart food stories. the author, Molly Wizenberg, writes a monthly column for Bon Appetit & she has a brand new book - A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table. read interviews with Molly here & here.
  
• this thoughtful post by Magpie Girl entitled, "Stepping Out of the Struggle." i am left with a yes to this: to sitting by the lake or by the fire - to waiting - to stepping out - to listening - to being in process - to taking the long view.
  
• Wellness Wednesday - what do you do for yourself that nurtures health (body, mind & spirit)? i post about this here.
  
• an interview at decor8 with Elizabeth MacCrellish, founder & director of Squam Art Workshops.
• Noticing Project {2009}. what are you noticing?
  
• when i was in college i received a quote attributed to Aboriginal activists in Queensland: "If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together." earlier this week i was reminded of these words while listening to an interview with Majora Carter. i remember - my liberation is connected to everyone's liberation. this is powerFULL!
• jelly beans. i heart jelly beans. we're entering jelly bean season in these parts! speaking of seasons o' sweetness - here are all of my seasons: summer = blueberry crumb pie season; autumn = pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin season; winter = chocolate chip & walnut cookie season; and, spring, of course = jelly bean season. what are your seasons o' sweetness and/or savory?
• an interview with Susannah Conway. read it all here - with "a mug of something hot" (as Susannah suggests): 21 intriguing questions & 21 illuminating responses.
• these words from this movie: "The unexpected is always upon us. And of all the gifts arrayed before me, this one thought at this moment in my life is the most precious. And so, we begin again."

joyFULLy participating in Wellness Wednesday

happy !

this past saturday i attended a retreat & this question was offered - a question at the heart of Wellness Wednesday: what nourishes your soul?

here were some of the responses from the wise women with whom i sat in the circle:

• movement: yoga; dance; tai chi.
• words & "good preaching."
  
• having a prayer corner, table, shelf or chair in one's home.
• being in relationship with nature & noticing the rhythms in nature.
  
• wearing "inspired" clothing & jewelry - clothing & jewelry that calls out to us ("wear me today! wear me!"), lifts us & invites us to shine.
• reaching out to help someone.

later we read an article entitled, "What Nourishes Your Soul?", by Laurie Blefeld. this article appears in the most recent publication of Sacred Journey. the greatest gift i received in reading this article was identifying what is called for in my life right now - the necessary nourishment to include in my response to the question: "what nourishes my soul?" this is what i must tend to: my willingness to receive, to be a recipient of love, light, goodness & connection.

on this Wellness Wednesday i am holding & offering these questions: what am i receiving? what are you receiving? what difference does receiving/being the recipient make?

this february saturday & march sunday

i am saying: "goodbye & thank you!" to february & "hello & welcome!" to march.
*
february was a time of: registering for Squam Art Workshops (a dream come true!) & enjoying all kinds of Squam-y excitement (connecting with my Squam-y roomie & finding out about all of the inspiring beauties - near & far - attending in september!); havin' a snow day; attending an urban priestess event; sendin' out love notes & packages; seeing this movie; healing body & spirit work; honoring half-birthdays; confusion & stuck*ness & movement through (livin' my words o' 09: "bRAVe" & "this"); planning for upcoming adventures (a trip to boston in april!); spending time with beloveds - sippin' tea, chattin' on the phone, havin' lunch, sharin' dinner & visitin'; early to bed & early to rise; continuing to participate in The Portfolio Project (divin' into collaging & totally diggin' daily photos!); and, knitting my first hat - the completion of my first knitting project & beginner's knitting class.
*
this is (some of) what's in store for march: shining my light; a snow day tomorrow (?!); springing forward; a visit from a dear friend from college; seeing Lucy Kaplansky live; a weekend date with my momma; a visit from a beloved who lives in wyoming; the spring equinox; and, starting a book club.
*
on saturday i participated in a day of retreat entitled, "The Sanctuary Within: A Prayer of Presence." juicy & nourishing - like a great big glass o' fresh pineapple, mango & peach juice topped with dollops o' fresh air, fuzzy buds, ducks & a soccer ball! i shared this day with & in a spirited circle of women - wise, wise, wise women - women who shared with their whole (joyful, insightful, bandaged, bruised, broken open, shining & all) hearts - women who brought their loves, losses, illnesses, opportunities, victories, children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, parents, colleagues & partners into the circle. we sang. we moved. we listened. we ate. we drank. we blessed. we learned. we taught. i was touched by these words: "Fill me with happy songs..." & "Stir up your trust in the infinite goodness of God [Life, Source, Goddess...]."
*
on sunday morning i woke to snow on rooftops, tree branches & cars. from sunday night into monday morning 8 - 14 inches of snow could fall in my city. march - a trickster of a month!
*
to the gym, the grocery store & back home again on sunday mornin'. on sunday afternoon: payin' the bills; updatin' my blog; checkin' in with bloggie beauties; e-mailin'; makin' art; researchin'...
*
i am planning for my next inHERview! stay tuned. in the meantime - i invite you to read my inHERviews with Kirsten Michelle and jen gray here and here.
*
i am planning for my next gem parcel: an "in honor of the spring equinox (in the northern hemisphere)" give*away! stay tuned. this gem parcel will be full o' sunshine goodness!
*
i am wishing you a happy sunday & a shiny new month!