Rejoice and Be Glad!

Today is Paul's seventy-seventh birthday.  He says it is just another day.  And that is true.  TGIF also, yet when you are on loose time, that says it is Friday and one more day to BE.  To BE-- to Rejoice and Be Glad!

Young friends with strong backs took our window air conditioner out for us.  It is sitting on the floor below the window.  In all probability, it will be right there and ready for installation next summer unless I am excessively motivated and energized enough to do RADICAL cleaning and organizing.   That is not a terribly imminent possi/probability. 

Virtually all of the leaves on the pear tree out back are down now.  In the backyard behind us, yellow and red leaves hold on tenaciously.  Soon, they too will spiral down and once again the evening lights on Berkeley Street will be visible from our desk side window after dark.  Also, on clear nights the sight of Ms. Moon rising will be easier to enjoy.

South of us, ice pellets (grapple) fell yesterday.  This is the time of year when being close to Lake Ontario keeps our temperature a bit warmer.  Wait awhile and the Lake will be abundantly responsible for "lake effect" snow.

Things to be pondered and sorted.  Breathe in and out.  BE.  Life continues with its changing scenes and opportunities.  May each of us be richly blessed according to our needs.

Namaste!

 

Yesterday was All Saints Day.  Today is All Souls Day.
 
Last week was very busy for me with art show paper work, mat cutting and framing.  Working with twenty pounds of ground bison was also a time consumer.  I finished the last of the bison processing this morning with freezing three small portions of plain meat and fixing stuffed bell peppers with teriyaki bison.  Soon, I shall pop them into the oven and in an hour or so, we'll eat them for our main meal of the day.  Yesterday, I also fixed onions au gratin and there is enough of that to reheat.  Writing about the food makes me hungry!

Outside, the sun shines warm on fallen leafs of gold and red piling ankle deep as they brightly carpet our front lawn.  A little raking is probably in order later.

As you can see, I'm still playing with ink on mat.  It is very satisfying for some reason. 

Tonight, I'll probably feel compelled to watch the Yankees and Phillies even though I enjoy watching Castle.  Castle has proven fairly entertaining with fun plot twists.  I like the way the main characters play against each other too.

All is well, we are incredibly blessed to be alive, upright and able to take nourishment.  Life certainly is an unpredictable learning experience.  May each of us be richly blessed according to our needs.
Peace, patient perseverance and persistence.

Rain.  It has been awhile since that sound has been heard for any length of time and we've been forecast to perhaps have it until afternoon.  I'm sure Mother Earth is happy for it around our home.  Further to the east, they've probably had more than their quota.  At any rate, I'm up earlier than usual, it is drippy and grey.  There are many golden leaves still on the backyard pear tree to liven the greyness.

A day for new directions?  Monday and Tuesday were taken up with paper work and decision making for two different art clubs I belong to here in Rochester.  Each is having a show in November and I can submit three works for each event to be juried for inclusion.  Post marked deadlines for paper work were met (procrastination?) and decisions made to submit ink on mat board pieces.  Of course there are mats to be cut and framing to do, but not today.

With days decreasing in light, leaves falling and cooler weather due, Mother Earth pulls up her colorful leaf comforter and sighs with the breezes.  Robins have left, most flowers have gone.  A time to be particularly mindful of being still; for making regular space in ones schedule for the silence of meditation.  Time to change  pace from summer/autumn in preparation for Winter.  Simplify, clarify, walk gently, be Present in the unfolding moment and Be Still.

A friend is coming this morning and we are going to play with Sculpy or perhaps make salt/flour clay!  I'm looking forward to it very much.  I like doing either and to have a live playmate to do it with is great.  Doing to be CREATIVE--just for the pure joy of it--no expectations or goals.  My hope is for it to loosen my friend's creative skills and let them begin to flow again after a rather long health induced respite.

This day, may we be fully present in all we do.  May we have gratitude for the particular life each of us has been given to mold and grow in.  May we prune if necessary or stretch if it is needed. 

Blessed Creator, kindly guide, guard and grow us.  Help us jettison our personal doubts and fears and be open for letting our personal gifts be loosed.  

Amen!
Namaste!

Mysteries Unfolding
dots in progress



Spirit exploring Creational space, wonderment over possibilities and matter, awed by diversity of connections with Magnificent Wholeness.

Wage peace! Celebrate the Gift of Life this day!

Namaste!

Prayer in the Night

 

"He who holds to himself a joy does the winged-life destroy. He who kisses the bird as it flies lives in eternitys sunrise."  (author unknown to me)

google research: He who binds himself to a joy. Does the winged life destroy. But he who kisses the joy as it flies, Lives in eternity's sunrise. -William Blake ...

Also, our Spirit carried prayers carry their balm of blessings across time through the night.

see October 11th for this piece beginning.  She ended differently than I thought she might.  In many ways she is my favorite; undoubtedly because of the breadth of possible meaning and definitely because of the rainbow of rich color used.

ink on mat board, about the size you see.

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Saturday morning already!

Yesterday, for the first time, I cooked venison.  (The little kid in me didn't burst into tears and say, "Bambi!")  When Damian and Amy moved back to Florida, we took several frozen cuts of venison from their freezer.  This particular piece was a roast.  My cooking advice had been to cook it long and low with lots of veggies. Thickly studded with garlic, covered with onions, carrots, potatos, a splash of vinegar, one can of cream of mushroom soup and sprinkled over with a pack of Lipton's onion soup mix, it was thoroughly wrapped in heavyduty foil and left to cook four hours or more at 325 degrees.

When we opened it, the scent was mouth-watering.  The meat, though rather dry, was tender and tasty and all the juices made the dryness no problem.  We tried a bit of horseradish to go with it and that was good too.
Yes, there are leftovers.  We'll enjoy another meal as is and then some sort of Venison Stew will appear in the magical cook pot!

It is much cooler here for October than normal. South of us, in higher elevations away from Lake Ontario, snow has fallen already.  Some say we are going to have an extra snowy winter.  Thank goodness for a warm home and plenty of projects to keep busy with!

Special little happenings this week:
new guest at Isaiah House speaks only Russian; imagined being in her place, therefore smiled, held her hand, gently stroked her forehead and hummed to her--soon, her breathing deepened and she slept peacefully

visited friend in hospital and got to read her two stories.  next night she was home--read to her once again via telephone

small happenings that brought me much satisfaction

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May each of us be richly blessed according to our needs. 
Take time to listen! 
Be present in the unfolding moment of NOW.
Show up with your best attitude.
BE!

Namaste.