A candle burns . . .

. . . for my beloved friend Renie.
Sending peace, comfort, and love.

image by Oliver Beattie

The ancient sky

"Teach me your mood, O patient stars!

Who climb each night the ancient sky,

Leaving on space no shade, no scars,

No trace of age, no fear to die."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Image by Lucas Janin

A change of course

"Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way."

~ Native American saying

Thank you for all the good wishes about surgery you sent for me today.


Something much more urgent has come up, and I will be sitting this afternoon with a dear dear friend who is in hospice. It was from her that I learned the prayer, "Rocks, water, trees. Amen," was introduced to Clare's Well retreat farm, and was blessed with laughter, compassion, understanding, and unconditional friendship and love.


I dare say she is transforming into some form of pure love as her body changes its course. What an honor be able to be her companion today.


Blessings . . .

A sacred pause . . .

"I need to recover a rhythm in my heart

that moves my body first and my mind second,

that allows my soul to catch up with me.

I need to take a

sacred pause,

as if I were a sun-warmed rock
 in the center of a rushing river."

~ Dawn Markova

Here's hoping surgery on my right knee tomorrow at noon (central) helps me move back into the beautiful rhythms of being an adventure grrl again soon.

All healing thoughts most welcome!

Image by by Dave

Look what happens when you dare to ask

Wild Horse Island, Montana

~~~~~~

I receive e-mails from a catalogue company whose merchandise is pure eye candy. On rare occasion, when something is in the "outlet" section and I simply can't live without it (which usually means it's a piece of intriguing jewelry), I splurge, meaning shell out less than $30.

Recently, an e-mail featured the most amazing fingerless gloves (mitts) and I was really tempted because it can get a little frosty in my cube in the middle of winter.

And then I stopped.

Wait! I know someone who knits like nobody's business. I could show them to her and see if she might be willing to whip up a pair.

And so I got up the courage and asked. And guess what? She accepted!

So now, I have in my possession a most enviable treasure.

(Cue drum roll)

CanCan mitts

Created by our very own wondrous knitting nurse blogger, Rudee!

Here's what the accompanying card said about them:

"Here are your CanCan mitts in Mountain Colors, a Montana yarn company that makes all its yarn and names the very vivid colors after natural places found in Montana. Your mitts are in Wild Horse--named after Wild Horse Island."

See, Rudee gave me two choices for the yarn and I had to pick one based on name alone. That's right, sight one unseen. Of course, there was no way I couldn't pick a name with "Wild" in it. And I couldn't be happier. They're deliciously soft, seductively fascinating, cozy beyond reason, and, dare I say, sexy -- or at least pretty darn sassy!

No, the lovely hand model is not me. That's PreciousGrrrlChild, who managed to inherit the finest bone structure and skin that both sides of the family had to offer. Not exactly the perfect ensemble to show off the mitts, but, well, you get the picture

Anyway, as I opened the package just as I was about to dash off to Clare's Well last weekend, Mr. B nabbed one from me and put it on. You've really got to watch that man like a hawk! His head is way bigger than mine, and he's managed to stretch out sunglasses, hats, and headbands that he's swiped for me!

My CanCan mitts will be joining me at safely at work, serving as a reminder of the amazing talent and kindness of people I only know through silent words and photos, but who from time to time reach right through this strange veil of our cyberworld and touch our hearts.

So here's to Rudee, knitter extraordinaire, state fair blue winner ribbon, hospice nurse, and all-around kind soul!

Thank you, my dear. The check's almost in the mail along with some piece of unnamed beadwork.

(PS: Check out Rudee's staycation list in her sidebar, item #2: :^D)

Image of Wild Horse Island by montantanavrcampground

It may be Halloween . . .

. . . but it is also the birthday of one hauntingly Romantic poet,

and so in his honor, this excerpt from . . .

A Thing of Beauty (from Endymion)

John Keats

(1795-1821)

    . . . Nor do we merely feel these essences

For one short hour; no, even as the trees

That whisper round a temple become soon

Dear as the temple's self, so does the moon,

Her passion poesy, glories infinite,

Haunt us til they become a cheering light

That, whether there be shine, or gloom o'ercast,

They always must be with us, or we die.

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

Happy Halloween!

Image by http://www.flickr.com/photos/garibaldi/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

'One ringie dingie'

Found inside the knobbly pod of a milkweed plant, while walking at Clare's Well.
They're so silky and make me think of angels just about to spread their wings.

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

"If trying harder doesn't work, try softer."

~Lily Tomlin

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

Image by Kathleen Kimball-Baker,who is thinking about Jennifer on the Verge

'You are enough."

I walked my favorite labyrinth* this weekend while making a 2-day personal retreat, something I try to do every couple of months. I didn't have a specific question going in. I just wanted to listen. And here's what I heard:

You are enough.

Seek to do enough

so that you have enough

to know that
you are enough.

An interesting message that I suppose could be interpreted in different ways. What I took from it was a reminder to balance the different parts of my life. In other words, do "just enough" and try to avoid perfectionism. Do this so I have enough "time" and "energy" not to get so depleted that I forget that I really am enough just as I am. Things have tipped rather heavily toward work of late (which is why I haven't posted or commented much lately.) So this sweet message was exactly what I needed to hear.



If you've never walked a labyrinth, I highly recommend giving it a try. I've found it to be a fascinating experience. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has only one way in and one way out, and walking the path is incredibly meditative and calming. I've yet to walk one without gaining some perspective. Sometimes the message has been: "Will you just lighten up!?" Other times, I have a running dialogue with The Great Unknowable. I've even walked out with one word: "Heal" or "Rest" or "Enjoy."

I usually bow in reverence before entering a labyrnith, say a little prayer, and pose a question. By the time I reach the center, I almost always have an answer. Sometimes, that's not the case and an awareness comes to me on the way out. Such was my walk at dawn. In the past, I've worried when nothing became clear by the time I reached the center. But after many, many walks, I've learned to trust that I will exit with some very helpful guidance.


And my favorite labyrinth* is at Clare's Well, a retreat farm run by 3 Franciscan sisters, about an hour west of the Twin Cities. If you click the "take a closer look" link, be sure to check out the picture of the large labyrinth on the prairie as it appears with snow on the path. Sister Carol is so experienced creating labyrinths, she can make one just walking on fresh fallen snow atop the property's frozen Sabbath Pond. That's what I woke up to see one Minnesota morning when I was in the sorriest state I've ever experienced. It was such a breathtaking site, sparkling in the winter sun and beckoning me outside to reflect, enjoy beauty all around me, and soak up love. Not surprisingly, I've been hooked ever since.


May you find an answer or any guidance you seek by walking slowly and contemplatively on a labyrinth near you.

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

So have you walked one?
Where's your favorite labyrinth?

I'd love to hear about your experience!

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

Image by margaretsaizan

Another reason why 2 good knees are a must!

Tango!* 

Any suggestions on how I can get Mr. B to go to Arthur Murray's with me?

*And mushing, of course.

(Right knee scheduled for surgery November 5)

Of fullness . . .

Since there is no rice in the begging bowl I put in flowers.

~ Basho

Image by nozhika