Blessings

Heads & Hands & Happy Halloween!

Heads to be ... Hands to heal and light the way ... Heads to open, honor and to ponder ... Heads and hands to create our worlds ... and a Happy Happy Halloween!

A-ha! Stars

Today I willed myself to learn to make these crocheted stars. To the seasoned crocheter, this is pretty remedial, but I've tried to make these several times over the years, following the written instructions in one of my needlework books. Reading those cryptic patterns is very challenging for me. Today I had one of those magical A-ha! moments that finally enabled me to understand and execute.

I love learning new things. Even when I have nothing particular in mind to which the lessons may apply.

I also made a yummy roasted vegetable soup from some garden harvests too.

That's what I made today.

Apple Starts

Today I went apple picking with a new and rather wonderful friend. You know, those rare folk with whom you feel a subtle, yet undeniable connection. So I came home with apples. Many apples, and now have many apple-ish projects lined up for the days ahead. But today I made the first batch of brandied applesauce and started - what you see here in the photo - a batch of apple-cardamom brandy cordial.

That's what I made today.

Acts of Love

Yesterday and today I worked on some new little pieces of art and love. I enjoy the process of creating these Impressions of Nature so much - from wandering the wild places and collecting the trimmings and pressing them, to choosing the leaves and words that belong together, to mixing the colors and mediums, to working them into the layers of love that they will become.

That's what I made today.

Headway

Today I tackled a number of tasks of the variety that hold little appeal for me. Today opted to be my day of responsibility, so I made a bit of ceremony to help put me in the frame of mind that I felt was needed to clear what I perceived as a hurdle. I prepped and smudged my workspace and invested several moments with my frame drum to further clear the space and ground my intention.

I took up my tools and commenced to catch up on things that had I let go a bit too long with a solid sense of satisfaction. I managed other impending deadlines with a grace that rather surprised me. I even got ahead on some work and planned my tasks for next Thursday and felt a cool sense of satisfaction wash over me - all before noon.

I recalled my corporate days when I prided myself in my capacity to manage multiple priorities, deadlines and assorted foolish tasks, pride that I wore like a badge of power. I found myself honoring that old badge with all its hard, razor-like edges, and also honoring the difference between then and now. Then I wore that badge most every day, now I need only risk the cuts of its adornment once a week.

The day was magnificent so I rewarded myself with hot cup of tea on the deck, under the warm October sun and felt a part of me open - a part that has been wriggling lately - to both release and take in a sense of Knowing that I had not felt in several months. The trees whispered to me, clearly. I felt an infinite points of connection. I grabbed my Tarot cards and flipped through them ... each one singing in a voice I have not heard in a while.

Something in this day of contrived balance offered headway in so many ways. And for this I am grateful. Ashe. Ashe.

An Homage

My mom gave me this little Halloween village several years ago and every October I am tickled as I set it up on my fireplace mantel ... and then enjoy its warm, welcoming and playful glow in these evenings of the thinning veils.

Lady's Love

On the window.

On the lawn chair.

On the deck rail.

On the siding.

On the screen.

On the kennel chain-link.

On Halley's kennel door.

On the pine tree.

On the deck step.

On the deck.

On me.