Choice

Succulent Love

I'm in love with the results of this little project. All the necessary supplies were easily found around the home and it wasn't long before these beauties were bringing joy to my windowsill. It's silly just how much they make me smile.

How do you add bits of brightness and joy to your space? 

facing fear & embracing change

It's Wednesday: exactly a week before my next surgery. It is also Broken Mic poetry night. Before my last surgery in November I finally punched my fear in the face and read a poem I had written for the first time at Broken Mic. I all but ran away from the mic as the last words left my mouth, but after attending Broken Mic regularly for almost a year I was so glad to have finally overcome my fear. I decided a couple weeks ago that reading again before my next surgery would be a good step for me. My Grandfather (Papa) has been in my thoughts more than usual lately as we approach the time of year he passed, and rather than sharing my poetry I will be reading the following poem written by Kim Stafford. Kim Stafford never knew Papa, but awoke from the night to allow these words to paper. This poem makes my heart smile beyond words and not only am I unafraid to read tonight, I am excited. I am excited to continue to recognize, embrace and shatter my fears.

A voice from Marvin Bernards, heard in the night by
      Kim Stafford, husband of Perrin, friend of
      Margie...February 13, 2005


I may not sound the way you knew me then-
when I was named and walked among you all.
When I was farmer, father, and your friend.
The time has come to whisper in you softly now,
      the way I could not tell you then:

"How great thou art," you sang me softly
when you gathered in my name.
I saw you in the chapel bowed and still
when one by one I heard you think for me.
"Then sings my soul, How great thou art."

When alive I thought the barn must open,
the tractor start, and all things hum and roll.
Now I see you all around me toiling.
On the land I call you all to praise:
"How great thou art! Then sings my soul,
      How great thou art,"

In the ground our destiny is growing,
from the sky our light comes gold and low.
In your hands my work goes onward singing
"How great thou art." So sings my soul for you:
      How great thou art."

words shared

While I struggle with technology and it's implications for human understanding and our quality of relationships, I always have to remember that it is not the technology that is the issue: it is the way we choose to use it. These are simply words shared between two friend lovers via text messaging. We are always near to those we connect with by heartstrings.


Love whispers as the wind blows..

We feel it even without understanding its origin.

It is always there for the choosing--the recognition of existence.

It is us in becoming.

It is us as we are.

Perfect in our follies. We create.

We participate to grow.

We exist to be, Love.

----------------------------

The sound of water as it pushes forward..

the sound of our being being brushed by stone..

the sound of night as it moves its special light along the infinite string of our heart..

coolness and inertia in balance.

l is for lemons. l is for love.

I was exhausted the other day after working twelve hours, but something told me there were moments not to be missed. I assessed the energy I could muster and said yes, let's to what was indeed a fantastic visit with one of my dear friends. I was inspired and full of smiles when I put myself to bed late that night. As I was looking through my phone notes the other day it was to my surprise that I found a poem of this experience that I had written just before sleep. I don't generally write poetry, which is to say I don't make time to write poetry. It sings through my head but rarely makes it to paper. Thanks iphone for being bright and shiny and there to snag my words.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


She grows lemons sweeter, and
bigger than any you have ever seen
Water sunshine and love are all she needs
and she feeds herself, and her trees daily

Cycle of life reeling, out and
in salty air most things thrive
Exfoliated. Alive. Kettle corn candied lemons,
sweeter than any tart memory in mind

A two block walk to grandpa sams
to give and receive from great grandfathers tree of life
Italian lemons make the sweetest lemonade,
life disposition what one has been given and gave

Family food and smiles
feed the deepest when language bars
Sweet lemons are comfort that heal scars

a beautiful day.

Today is a beautiful day for many reasons.

I'm alive, the sun is shining, my tulips are finally in full bloom, and today was the first Spokane Farmer's Market of the season. On my bicycle and in a summer dress (yes, it's finally warm enough!) I rode to work to do some baking and then headed downtown to the market to continue my "work" for the day.

The first farmer's market may just be my favorite day of the entire year; it holds the promise of local food soon to come and a reunion with some of my favorite people, those who grow the food that nourishes. I guess it is sort of like going home to a family you have dearly missed: so much to catch up on, and so many hugs, smiles, laughter and joy to share.

Today has been filled thus far with lovely human interactions. This morning a celiac customer who cleaned me out of gingersnap cookies told me that he wanted to "fold me up, put me in his pocket and take me with him." To bake cookies, of course. It was a pretty cute compliment. I love people, and I love the way that my work allows me to interact on a daily basis. It's really all about simple joys, sharing smiles, and building love.

Here's a glimpse into the beauty I encountered when greeting the day.

Tulips are my favorite

I'm off to soak up the sun and experience my city on bicycle.

Love.

the Grow Show: building community and parading love

After months of growth and love, The Grow Show is on it's way to Portland to be on display at Bijou Cafe, whereafter it will accumulate carts growing love as it progresses to Tacoma, Olympia, and finally back to it's beginning in Spokane. For the past few weeks I've been lucky to watch the Spokane carts and plants grow in the sunny storefront windows at Fresh Abundance. As all growth is, it has been magical. The Grow Show is a project of Black Rabbit Magic and can be read about in greater detail here.

Last Friday a group of lovelies gathered at Fresh Abundance to parade our carts of love into downtown Spokane arriving at the Kolva Sullivan Gallery where they were on display for First Friday. Guests who viewed the Grow Show were given vegetable starts to take home. I could go on and on about how amazing this was to be a part of, but I think the pictures can tell the story well enough.

If you are in Portland, I highly recommend checking out this show by Black Rabbit Magic.

Love.