at the end of 2009

it is new year's eve night. i am having a quiet, candlelit night at home. perfect.

i remember last year's new year's eve. i traveled to my parents' home (which was not the original plan for the night) and got motion sick on the way as a migraine erupted. i was in bed by 8:30 p.m. i woke in the early morning hours of 2009 with visions of change in this new year. i saw that there was to be an ending in july and the loss, death, of a mother in 2009.

so it was that i left my work of five and a half years and my home in the city of brotherly and sisterly love at the end of july and on august 1 i moved north. and so it was, too, that in the early days of 2009 my godmother was suddenly diagnosed with a brain tumor and a few days after thanksgiving she died.

tonight i am thinking about:

• the loves in my life and their aches, victories, worries and creations in 2009. i want to tell them, you: everything will be okay, every thing, i promise. i do not know how or when, i just know that it will be. i am holding you in light.
• my word for the new year: bliss.
• putting together a new volume of tunes inspiring me.
• my deep heart desire to create life, love, family and home with another.
• gratitude for three wide open days to gently welcome and enter the new year, the bliss year, prior to beginning a new work adventure on monday, the 4th. these will be days full of daydreaming and planning.
• entering a period of hibernation.
• ab's january visit.
• s. giving birth in late may/early june.
• traveling to nyc in june.
• strengthening my body.
• healing and transforming an essential relationship in my life.
• launching the website for my practice in early '10.
• what will my life look like on december 31, 2010?

34

today i am celebrating my 34th birth*day. this week i've been working on a list: 34 for 34. here are my 34 for 34:

1. feel safe, comfortable, delighted, connected & inspired in my new home.
2. attend Squam Art Workshops in september. i arrive in 3 1/2 weeks!
3. (continue) being bRAVe in this.
4. build my practice.
5. write, write, write.
6. publish one or two or + of my writings.
7. follow my heart.
8. listen for spirit's guidance.
9. celebrate, enjoy & laugh with beLOVEds.
10. make podcasts.
11. post a vlog or two or three...
12. be with my family at thanksgiving & christmas.
13. travel to wyoming to officiate a commitment ceremony.
14. create & lead 4 seasonal rituals.
15. co-create a local creative expression group. meet monthly.
16. co-create a local spirit group. meet monthly.
17. participate fully in the Mondo Beyondo inaugural on-line course.
18. create a course.
19. collaborate with another bloggie beauty on an on-line project.
20. say "yes!" when & only when i am a heart*full "yes!"
21. nourish, heal & strengthen the temple of my body.
22. honor my daily morning practice.
23. plan a trip abroad.
24. travel to portland, maine to visit with beauties a few times throughout the year.
25. travel to the berkshires to visit with friends.
26. create, be & share in loving partnership.
27. take daily photos.
28. continue to practice the great lesson of 2009: flow. keep the energy flowin'.
29. go to a halloween party.
30. go apple and/or berry picking.
31. continue the work that is unfolding in partnership with Women for Women International in honor of bella.
32. cultivate a powerful & aligned relationship with time.
33. cultivate a powerful & aligned relationship with technology.
34. honor my voice & my intuition.

my art & the language of my life

a piece of the path i walked yesterday

these recent days i am holding several questions - questions that inspire & delight. here are two:

1. what is my art?

2. what is the language of my life?

on monday i explored these questions in one of my journals, starting with the question, "what is my art?" as my words moved through me (& my fingers) & to the screen i started to see that my response to "what is the language of my life?" mirrors my response to "what is my art?" my art is the language of my life & the language of my life is my art. when i ask "what is my art?" & when i ask "what is the language of my life?" i am asking the same question. i also see that my art is & the language of my life is: my gift, my skill & my contribution.

my art & the language of my life is:

• being
• breathing
• showing up
• seeing, naming, honoring & celebrating what is, the wholly holy & the extraordinary ordinary
• presence, peace & practice
• gratitude & appreciation
• creation
• light-full & light-ness
• joy
• gentle-ness, kind-ness & generosity
• healing
• illuminating
• delight
• savoring
• sweet-ness
• enough & perfection
• partnership with Spirit, ancestors, Nature, partner, children, family, friends, colleagues & acquaintances
• loving
• mindful-ness
• listening
• fluid, flowing, impermanent
• simplicity

what is your art? what is the language of your life?

heart*soaring & soul*singing

inspired by this post by Jamie Ridler i made a list of things i value, things that are important to me, things of the heart soaring & soul singing variety.

1. Aligning with & living in partnership with the rhythms of the earth, nature, seasons & my being.
2. Being. Being with.
3. Process.
4. Magic.
5. Honoring & celebrating the daily, the ordinary extraordinary.
6. Creation. Creativity.
7. Beauty.
8. Tenderness, Kindness, Generosity.
9. Love.
10. Light.
11. Home.

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...
  

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.

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!

what i'm up to...

knitting every day.
preparing & sending out love mail.
out to lunch with friends, including two of bella's beloveds.
completed my latest volume of in tune tunes, made up of songs i collected-songs that spoke to me & for me-while journeying through recent days, weeks & months.
making & eating popcorn.
looking at the full moon.
having a snow day.
strengthening & healing my body. going to the gym & receiving bodywork.
scheduling phone dates with soul*sisters.
attended an urban priestess ritual.
planning a spring equinox ritual.
read one of the best posts ever.
dancing to this tune and this tune.
planning adventures for march & april: visits from friends; a trip to nyc; a trip to boston; and a spring equinox ritual.
looking forward to upcoming february festivities: a trip to virginia to visit two beloveds; a day of retreat; and tea, lunch & movie dates.
softening in the sunshine of warmer days.
daydreaming about the future i am creating.
put my Netflix account on hold. i may cancel it. we'll see. i'm leaning in the direction of canceling.
signed up for a free teleseminar with Christine Kane.
taking pictures every day. including this one:

some things

*listening to: "Thirty Things I Believe" (part of the This I Believe project) by Tarak McLain, a seven year old boy (thank you, C!); Ane Brun (thank you, Susannah!); Jen Lee's podcasts; and, jen gray's morning songs.
*delighting in: And the Pursuit of Happiness: The Inauguration. At Last. by Maira Kalman (thank you, again, C!).
*resonating with me: this post by Christine Mason Miller and this post by Andrea Scher.
*reading: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle; Journal of a Solitude; and this free e-book, The Complete Guide to Vision Boards, by Christine Kane.
*learning: to knit.
*cooking: this roasted sweet potatoes with red onions...recipe; this brussel sprouts recipe; the "Basic Cornbread" recipe from the Moosewood Cookbook; and Lemon Chicken Soup with Orzo.
*grounding me: honoring and celebrating the ordinary; moving and acting with intention; taking photos; going to the gym; resting; and, sharing a cup of tea, a sushi lunch and phone conversations with friends.
*guiding me: answering the questions "what makes my heart sing?" and "what do i need right now?" and "what is the most life-affirming/authentic/true choice/option for me right now?"
*following: my intuition.
*inspiring me: 1. my first inHERview with Kirsten Michelle. 2. a brave beauty, a dear sister in maine, speaking her truth when it was the very hardest thing to do. her truth telling awakens these questions in me: where do i/must i speak the truth? where have i been avoiding saying what is for me (causing me to suffer)? her truth telling reminds me: the truth does/will set me free (and others), enliven me (and others), inspire me (and others).
*looking forward to: a trip to virginia in two weeks to visit two beloveds; Squam Art Workshops; and, a House Concert tonight.
*preparing: a thank you letter to january 2009 and a hello letter to february 2009.

three thursday night goodies

1. this interview with Barack & Michelle Obama. "All my life, I have been stitching together a family, through stories or memories or friends or ideas..." (the words of Barack Obama). read on: here.
2. Liz Elayne's video post.
3. two days in july: "a collaboration. two friends. born a day apart."

welcome/well*come 2009

welcome/well*come friends! it's 2009. hip hip hooray! i have much to share and there is a treasure offering (a give*away!) at the end of this post. read on...

**
this is the color of this beginning, this new year, my 2009. this color has been showing up in oodles of places/spaces in my lil' world lately...

**
the animal companioning me: owl. at the beginning of this (owl) exploration i am claiming this symbolism of the owl: wisdom, mystery, truth, patience, divination, solitude, change/transition, learning, intelligence, mysticism, protection, wealth. the owl is the totem of clairvoyants and mystics.

**
i am embracing: the New Love angel card i chose (and chose me!) on sunday at this women's gathering.

**
as for my words and phrase to guide and inspire me in 2009...i began the journey of discerning my word for 2009 weeks ago. i made notes of words that spoke to me, including: pioneer, kindness, abundance, clarity, YES, live, create, blossom, bloom, astonishing, flow and intention.

slowly one word began to take root. the word "this." this, as in, this is what is right now, this is my life and Just This. this is the word i've been chanting as i claim/reclaim my ground/core truth/power/full*ness moment by moment.

quietly and ever so gently another word emerged to stand beside this: "bRAVe." bRAVe (for me) contains the element of activism and this inspires me. in being bRAVe i claim: i am sourcing action and shift. i intend to be bRAVe in 2009. bRAVer than i've ever been before.

and, most recently, this and bRAVe took each others' hands and invited me to hold this phrase when necessary: bRAVe in this. bRAVe in this. bRaVe in this.

**
now for the treasure offering. in this new year, throughout the year, i will be offering some extra*special give*aways. perhaps 9 as it is 2009? we'll see...

each give*away will be a unique gem parcel pieced together by yours truly and sent to one special someone. each gem parcel will contain marvelous jewels & scrumptious treats, sweet blessings & inspiring creations. why you ask? i heart mail good*ness & enjoy sharing goodies & i welcome the opportunity to connect with you in new ways in the new year.

to win this gem parcel all you need to do is leave me a lil' comment with one (or, more!) of your hopes/words/intentions for 2009 on this post by january 12, 2009 at 9:09 p.m. EST. oke-dokies?!

fare thee well 2008

i have been spending time re*viewing 2008. preparing to let go of this year and make space for 2009. i made a list of high*lights, travels, triumphs and other treasures.

**
a couple of quotes i collected this year:

"Make what you most need to find." -Sabrina Ward Harrison

"Time does not change us. It just unfolds us." -Max Frisch

**
my primary animal companion in 2008: bird. symbolizing: the soul, transcendence, spirits of air, ascent, communication, freedom, sight, unity and community.

**
my words for 2008: believe and remember. i started with the word, "believe." believe gave birth to "remember." these two words guided me to these learnings (and, more!) this year. i believe and i remember...i am not alone. i am connected. You are here. i am equal. i am safe. i am beloved. i am held. i am a creator, creative vessel. all is well. i belong.

**
dear 2008 and all creative sources and forces of 2008,

thank you for the whole of this year.

this was a year full of high anxiety, consistent tension(s), resistance, holding on, waiting, expanding and breaking through. the image of the stretched skin of a momma's pregnant belly comes to mind when i think of this full*ness. lots of "making room." although i don't totally understand this right now, it is showing up for me to say this: this was a year in which i was pregnant, waiting and gave birth.

in recent years the image of a nest holding eggs has been significant to me. this year, birds emerged as important. now, as i prepare to enter a new year, the owl, specifically, is companioning me.

it was a deeply dark, heavy and hard year for me in ways new and transformative.

dealing with alone-ness (feeling alone and being alone) was a central theme and at the heart of my soul*work.

thank you for taking me to heart-shaped Africa and to an abundance of heart*full beings. for taking me to the places where bella twirled and tangoed in the months and days before her physical death. i know that this was an essential journey for obvious reasons and for reasons not yet discovered...

thank you for seminary. for my teachers and deans. for my classmates. for the space. for monthly journeys to NYC. thank you for the privilege of taking vows and being ordained an interfaith minister.

thank you for answering in some sure way each and every call of mine for "help." you have saved my life again and again and again and again and again...

thank you for keeping me company, holding me, in the darkness.

thank you for this city, where i live. this city has life*affirming powers.

thank you for the gift of hearing bella's "i'm right here" in response to my every "i miss you so much."

thank you for apples, popcorn, brown rice pasta, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin pie, eggs, avocados, tea, whipped cream, clementines, spinach and sweet potatoes.

thank you for guiding me to do the hard thing, the truest thing, when i'd really, really, really, really...rather not.

thank you for yoga and those yoga classes that rocked my world. you know, the ones that accelerated the healing by going deep, deeper, deepest...in minutes.

thank you for the presence of healers, friends, soul*sisters, family, community, bloggie lights, co-workers, acquaintances and all with whom i shared the path this year. thank you for forgiving me when/if ever i seemed more absent than present.

thank you for music and dancing.

thank you for prayer. thank you for mala beads and rosary beads. thank you for chanting/Kirtan.

thank you for books. thank you for words. thank you for writing. thank you for pens and paper.

thank you for photos, cameras and the art of photography.

thank you for creativity/creative expression.

thank you for birth and color and candles and angel dogs and flowers and more...

thank you, thank you, thank you.

**
in the dark, pre-dawn hours of tuesday morning an image came to mind regarding this movement out of 2008 and into 2009. i imagined each year in one's life as a room, connected to a larger whole or house. i thought about all of the elements in my 2008 room and i thought about the many doors and passageways i photographed while journeying in Africa earlier this year. i can't think of a better image to post than that of a door/passageway as i say, "fare thee well 2008."

on my mind

• a new month.
• a new work week.
• a new season; the holiday season.
• a major work event tomorrow afternoon.
• a lil' nest to clean & decorate.
• a heap o' dishes to wash.
• banana walnut bread to bake.
• reading Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper.
• holiday cards to write.
• putting together this year's advent/*joy calendar in honor of bella.
• paying bills & writing "donation"/"contribution" checks while holiday shows play in the background.
• planning a winter solstice event.
• presents to wrap for s. & a., who i will see in virginia this weekend for our annual holiday weekend celebration. we will drink wine; find the perfect christmas tree; trim this perfect tree; eat at one of my favorite restaurants; share breakfasts together; say, "good night, john boy. good night, elizabeth..." (just like they did on this show) before going to sleep each night; have our own "christmas morning"; and, sink into the cozy*ness.

giving thanks

i am thanksFULL for:
*my family.
*my work.
*my co-workers.
*my nest.
*the view from my nest. looking out into the dark evening/night and seeing buildings with windows and rooms filled with light. light in the dark. makes me think of this post by Jen Lee.
*friday's snowflakes.
*my tribe.
*phone conversations.
*plans.
*lists.
*art making.
*healing.
*kundalini yoga.
*prayer.
*possibility.
*tea.
*weekly tea dates with t.
*candlelight.
*twinklelight.
*movies.
*photos.
*two voice mail messages from bella saved on my phone. i know both of these messages by heart.
*this year's journey to heart-shaped Africa.
*my spiritual director.
*bodywork.
*books.
*baking.
*the election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States.
*scarves.
*music.
*dancing.
*the opportunity to practice mindFULLness while washing dishes.
*inspiration.
*birth.
*resurrection.
*renewal.
*loving & connecting text & pix messages.
*mail.
*handwritten notes.
*journaling.
*attending & completing seminary & being ordained an interfaith minister.
*reiki.
*farmers markets.
*wild horses.
*my hometown.
*the gift of walking.
*hugs.
*forgiveness. in particular, self-forgiveness.
*polka dots.
*seasons.
*doggie dears.
*meditation.
*my rosary beads & my mala beads.
*trees.
*color.
*hardwood floors.
*pajamas.
*blankets.
*honoring myself, my whole self.

i love a list

a list of delights & discoveries:
*the birth of Cedar Leonard Kroon!
*Kindred. i heart my new desk*top wallpaper.
*GOOP: nourish the inner aspect by Gwyneth Paltrow. i signed up for the weekly newsletter. divine! example: last thursday mornin' i received a newsletter filled with recipes like these: "Carmelized Brussels Sprouts"; "Cranberry Chutney"; "Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Maple Syrup, Orange and Spices"; and, "Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie with Maple Whipped Cream."
*this JOY + RIDE: issue five.
*Jen Lee and her creation, Solstice: Stories of Light in the Dark.
*sending out an abundance of love*full, light*full, musical & thanks*full notes & packages to beauties in california, washington, maine, massachusetts, ohio & virginia.
*making donations to things i believe in. i am planning to make a donation to this. care to join me? all hearts are being called...
*this wisdom by Henri Nouwen (from his book, The Inner Voice of Love): "Your body needs to be held and to hold, to be touched and to touch. None of these needs is to be despised, denied, or repressed. But you have to keep searching for your body's deeper need, the need for genuine love. Every time you are able to go beyond the body's superficial desires for love, you are bringing your body home and moving toward integration and unity."

10 questions & 10 answers

i dig the television show, Inside the Actors Studio. one of my favorite parts of the show is at the end when the host, James Lipton, asks his guest(s) a series of questions (questions inspired by Bernard Pivot, who hosted a series entitled, Bouillon de Culture).

here are these 10 questions & my 10 answers:

1. What is your favorite word? gentle (is one of my favorite words)
   
2. What is your least favorite word? hate
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? fresh air
   
4. What turns you off? violence
   
5. What is your favorite curse word? i don't have a favorite curse word. it's not that i never curse, certainly not. it's just that i never feel good after i curse. it just feels off for me/not aligned and mostly i feel icky after i curse and i want to take my word(s) back.
   
6. What sound or noise do you love? the sound of snow falling (i listened to this sound on friday morning...lucky me!)
   
7. What sound or noise do you hate? horns honking in traffic
   
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? being a nurse
   
9. What profession would you not like to do? work in a fast food establishment
   
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? welcome home. you did good. real good. mission accomplished. you listened. you learned. you let go and you let go some more and then some more. you remembered and you believed that i was always with you, guiding you and loving you. thank you for fully embracing and fully living the gift of your creation.
    

want to play along? comment and leave your answer(s) to a question or two or ten or leave a link to a post on your blog in which you answer these questions.

my weekend: a list

*writing
*list making
*updating finances
*paying bills
*sending/responding to e-mails
*creating november intentions: being new; being in process; being fear*less
*morning yoga practice & prayer at home
*indian food lunch & movie with t.
*a walk & cell phone talk with d.
*a 90 minute saturday evening phone conversation with l.
*a slice o' pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top
*11 hours of sleep on saturday night
*falling back: turning the clocks back
*preparing a spinach lasagna for tuesday night's election celebration!
*diggin' out my "Certificate of Voter Registration" card to bring with me when i vote on tuesday mornin'
*creating an altar for bella & my maternal grandmother at my parents' home in celebration of Day of the Dead
*a trip to Michaels
*saturday & sunday morning dance parties in my nest

a saturday list

on the menu: (for tomorrow's home & love*made brunch...) spinach & mushroom omelets, yam "fries", pumpkin muffins, mugs o' tea & a double serving of catchin' up conversation.
prayer: (appropriate for these times, i think...) "We are aware that all generations of our ancestors and all future generations are present in us. / We are aware of the expectations that our ancestors, our children, and their children have of us. / We are aware that our joy, peace, freedom, and harmony are the joy, peace, freedom, and harmony of our ancestors, our children, and their children. / We are aware that understanding is the very foundation of love. / We are aware that blaming and arguing never help us and only create a wider gap between us, that only understanding, trust, and love can help us change and grow." -Thich Nhat Hanh
color: gray. the color of this day i am embracing.
enjoying: the unfolding of my saturday. waking without an alarm. a cup o' yogi tea (thai sweet delight) with this bit o' wisdom dangling from the end of the tea bag: "Grace brings contentment." healing minutes on the phone with a soul*sister. scrumptious sushi lunch with a dear friend...full of heart*full, rich conversation & appreciation for one another. being at home for the evening/night.
definition: grace (noun). 1. Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion. 2. A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement. 3. A sense of fitness or propriety. 4a. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill. b. Mercy; clemency. 5. A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence. 6. A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve. [definition found here.]
releasing: "have to" and "must".
welcoming: grace.
tunes: Ella Fitzgerald. the perfect voice for today.
remembering: an extra*special, extra*long re*connecting weekend celebration/love*fest in maine a couple o' weeks ago. gathering around tables of five or more at meal*times. making a feast o' home & love*made pumpkin pie & stir*fry. toasting to life & love. walking through a fairy village. seeing a great blue heron. drivin' & drivin' & drivin'. salad & pizza. a hot tuna sandwich. sunday morning bagels, fresh from the bakery, on the beach. days without television or radio. taking photos.
seeing: (from my 5th floor windows) the tops of orange*red & yellow*green trees.
feeling: a bit shy & quiet & soft lately. also feeling a bit anxious, stressed & overwhelmed in the last day +.

what's on your saturday list?

thursday night thoughts

this piece of today's post is inspired by e.soule.

what i like (brings tears to my eyes):


what i've been doing: being quiet. re*grounding at home, in my city, after time(s) away in recent weeks.

where i've been/going: (where i've been...) north for an autumn adventure with beauty*full beings, soul*sisters, members of my tribe, family. (where i'm going...) to see The Secret Life of Bees.

what i've been thinking: in death there is life and birth: boldly blossoming. in death there is hope: wild and true. love reigns.

and, this piece of today's post is inspired by this JOY + RIDE.

on the nightstand (thank you, s.!)...


am loving...the "Pamela's Chocolate Chip Cookies" recipe on the package of All Natural Pamela's Products Wheat-Free & Gluten-Free Baking & Pancake Mix. i made this recipe for the first time last night. scrumptious!

what inspires me about this fall? journeys north and south to be with beloveds. cups of tea; exta*especially enjoyed in the presence of beloveds. honoring/celebrating autumn with these creative bloggie wonders: 3191; A Beautiful Mess; Be...Dream...Play...; port2port press; my topography; Nectar & Light; the habit of being; abby try again...

what are three constants in my day?
1. a morning yoga/prayer practice
2. walking (to work, home for lunch, to the store, to the post office, to the train, to yoga class, up and down the stairs in my apartment building...)
3. bella's presence

part Friday Fill-In, part gem's friday fill-in

numbers 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 are from ; 2 and 4 are my creations.

1. October is a time for opening.
2. fridays feel festive!
3. Leaves are falling all around, it's a sweet and magical time.
4. it's the 3rd of october and here are three gratitudes & nourishments. one, the space for a 15 minute phone conversation with my darling friend, d., late thursday afternoon. feeling deeply connected to a soul*sister. so grateful. two, my weekly tea date with t. on thursday. on my plate: a tasty (melted in my mouth) lemon poppyseed scone. in my cup: hot creme caramel tea. in my heart: t.'s words to me. she said that recently she's been noticing a "blossoming (in me)...something transforming in my space..." even as i deal with what i'm dealing with. she said she hears it in my voice and she sees it in my face and eyes. her words to and for me resonate completely. three, having these hours just for me before i make the journey to be with beloveds this weekend.
5. playing girl's tennis in high school (during the late summer/fall season) = good memories.
6. It was a dark and stormy night after a string of dark and stormy nights and i was home, nestled safely in my bed, dreaming of the birth of a blue*sky, sun*bright morning.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to journeying to the lake, tomorrow my plans include resting, reconnecting with two soul*sisters, sharing nourishing meals and breathing in the fresh, crisp air and Sunday, I want to give thanks for the abundance, for the harvest.