aflame

 mountain ash at our "bit of earth".

the ebony and ivory dominoes.

the scissors and ivory needles.

four pair of gloves.

sugar cube tongs.

a lovely knife.

treasures from his family and from mine.

it is hard to discern what shall be carried into the future,

even as we pare down in the present.

the momentum is building

Lindsey came down from Boston for the weekend, with her Carhartt overalls. Hannah came over too. We worked on retaining wall recovery, brush removal (two pickups full), trash hauling, painting, more power washing (the last of it, thank-you very much) and cedar closet prom dress sorting (!). The girls managed to squeeze in a night on the town, and last night there was cookie baking and movie watching in the house. A Subaru even had the city grime scrubbed off of her in the driveway.

Our sweat equity factor was re-energized by these two girls and we are ever so grateful for their support of our dreams. 

The Bank of Good Karma saw a sweet deposit this weekend. The interest on the balance is multi generational.

Do you use the Bank of Good Karma?

xo

happy 80th birthday to my Mumsie!

Alan, Elaine and Karen, 1956

My Mumsie is still living on her own, 

volunteering at church

and the Audubon Society,

sketching with the Art Association

and keeping up with the computer age.

I had a fun visit with her this past week,

and I send her best wishes on her birthday today!

xo 

lessons

What Life Has Taught Me:

Resentment is poisonous;

Compassion is healing;

Love is creative.

-Ellen Sophia Bosanquet, 1960

this is giving me hope today. xo

"Strip away the fear and underneath it's all the same love."

Watch it here.

pausing

matcha tea

Making the time.

(In spite of the list of things to do).

Pouring the water and whisking the tea powder.

Warming my palms with the bowl.

Inhaling and then sipping and tasting and swallowing.

A lovely pause.

How do you create intentional pauses in your life?