Little Altars Everywhere

Do you have favorite little corners of your home?

I do.

To some eyes these places might look like an untidy mess, a mishmash of random feathers, art, rocks, postcards, pottery, books, photos... But to me they are little sacred altars, that feed the quiet place in me that needs to pause during the day, a place for my eyes to rest upon and feel a sense of comfort and softness.

This photo is of one of those special places. Its in the kitchen, so I get to look at it often. I feel like I'm being watched over by a very loving Madonna.

Do you have any special or favorite places in your home that you love?

Signs of Spring..

Is spring just around the corner? After this weekends gorgeous weather, I'm inclined to think so.

It seemed like all the birds knew it too.

We are very fortunate to have woods on two sides of our house, which makes excellent cover for wildlife, the birds especially seem to like it. We've fed them daily for more than five years and we reap the benefit of being able to observe some of Western Washington's most beautiful birds.

My daughter Isabel calls me a "bird nerd," I guess that's about right. I love to watch birds, listen to birds, and photograph birds and i.d them... If I see a new one that I haven't seen before, I just HAVE to know what it is, and won't rest till I know its name...( I feel the same way about plants too.)

On Sunday we were visited by a frisky pair of Sphyrapicus Ruber - Red Breasted Sapsuckers, they flitted and flirted in the sunshine all morning long. It was the first time I'd ever seen one, let alone two!

Birds bring so much joy, by just being themselves...

A Year Of Finding Love

We have been blessed these past few days here in the Pacific Northwest with some truly gorgeous sunny days.., inspiring us to get out and shake of the winter doldrums, the blahs or whatever you prefer to call it...

In our neighborhood it seemed like everyone had decided they had to garden, including myself..., I LOVE it when the sky is clear blue, with a bit of a nip in the air, I don my old scruffy pants and sweatshirt and get stuck in to whacking back all of the dead wood, branches, leaves,,, anything that looks remotely brown, is not safe from my loppers when weather like this rolls around.

I like to think that the plants are relieved when I cut back all that dead stuff, and allow the new growth emerging from the chocolate cake colored earth to breath and take in the warm sunlight.

I looked through my stock of photos taken over the last couple of years, funnily enough, I don't have many that pertain to "sunshine." But I did find this one taken on a very sunny day...

It was taken a year and a half ago, in my most favorite of states, where sunshine is never in shortage.., New Mexico.. here I sit by the Rio Grande, like a lizard, soaking up the heat from the sun, loving every moment of being there.

I wanted to find a poem about the sun, and found this one by the incredible poet Mary Oliver.

I hope you enjoy:)

The Sun

Have you ever seen

anything

in your life

more wonderful

than the way the sun,

every evening,

relaxed and easy,

floats toward the horizon

and into the clouds or the hills

or the rumpled sea,

and is gone--

and how it slides again

out of the blackness

every morning,

on the other side of the world,

like a red flower

streaming upward on its heavenly oils

say, on a morning in early summer,

at its perfect imperial distance--

and have you ever felt for anything

such wild love--

do you think there is anywhere, in any language,

a word billowing enough

for the pleasure

that fills you,

as the sun

reaches out,

as it warms you

as you stand there,

empty-handed--

or have you too

turned from this world--

or have you too

gone crazy

for power,

for things?

A Year Of Finding Love

On the road today

I love to ride motorcycles. I owned my first bike when I was 18 years old and lived in England. When I bought the bike, I had no idea how to ride, I just paid the man for the bike, jumped on and took off. Though it had a small engine (125cc), I came close to wrecking it and myself a number times, usually going full throttle, often without knowing what was around the bend! I was a little reckless to say the least, and a LOT lucky. But I was hooked.

About 7 years ago after a long respite from riding, I took a class to learn how to ride bikes the right way (I recommend this way to anyone considering owning a motorcycle.)

Nowadays I still love the speed and power (my current bike has about 1640cc's), but I'm a lot safer rider.

But the thrill hasn't changed, and I feel like a Bad Ass, as I ride like the wind...

Engine,

Heartbeat,

Vibrate,

Chrome,

Rev,

Torque,

Power,

Rush,

You get the idea...?

I dream one day of riding my bike through the Southwest, me , my bike and miles of open road and beautiful weather...

In order to be as safe as possible, you have to be fully present, in the moment.., all senses on alert. So many other things I do during the day I can do on "automatic pilot," but not this, my life depends on it..., which is why I love to ride.

A Year Of Finding Love

I'll be honest, as soon as I published yesterday's post, I began to feel nervous, and started to question myself.. but I had a list of chores that I had to get on and do, so I dropped the worry and got on with my list. Topping the list was a trip to the post office, so I took off and stood in line with several folks. I heard a woman's voice start talking to me from behind, saying how beautiful the day had been and weren't we all blessed? When I turned to see who was speaking, I saw an older woman with a sweet smiling face, her silver hair pulled back into an elegant bun. I couldn't help but notice her lovely voice, she had a southern accent, very gentle and polite. (think Jessica Tandy in the movie "Driving Miss Daisy.") She told me that even though it was sunny outside at her age of 89, she still had to wear a winter coat, as she felt the cold more, than when she was younger. I was quite taken aback when she told me her age, and told her how amazing I thought she looked! I went on to ask her what she thought her secret was to her obvious good health and longevity.. and she smiled her sweet smile and said in her lovely southern way, "Why.., LOVE of course," and gave a little secret laugh, more to herself than anything, like she was recollecting something sweet. She explained to me that her husband of 65 years (who was also 89) still worked full time as an engineer, despite having arthritis he was still able to work because he had a great mind and that he loved to work. She went on to say what a wonderful husband he had always been to her , and to this day he would still write her love letters and poetry, she sighed gently and finished by saying "I am lucky to have him, he is my angel." As I watched her describe the man she had loved for so many years, her face lit up, her eyes glistening, skin that glowed.., showing me that truly LOVE was her secret to wellness, health and beauty. I thanked her for sharing, and took my turn at the front desk.

Driving home I couldn't help but laugh at the irony of this conversation in a post office with a total stranger on the very subject of.... what else, but LOVE.

Perhaps I had been visited by an angel?

A Year Of Finding Love

A Year Of Finding Love

I invite you to join me daily (or however often you feel like it) on my year long quest to write about love.

I have given myself this task, so that I can remind myself each day that even though the world is filled with much pain and suffering, anger and hatred, I have much to be grateful for and love to share with all who care to join me.

So many times in the day I experience little, fleeting moments of love (along with many other more "challenging" emotions!)

I am committing myself to a year of documenting these beautiful snapshot, heart-squeezing moments, that bring love and joy into my life, and then share them with any of you who are interested.

I shared my idea with a very good friend, who I know cares about me deeply, and she was concerned for me that a) a year is a huge commitment to do anything (true, but whats the point of life if not to jump right in to it and start swimming? Its like the half marathon I ran in November, I didn't know I could run till I jumped in and started, the next thing I knew, I was a runner and completed a half marathon!) her other point was b) what if nobody reads it? Well, I'm doing this primarily for myself, with an open heart to share with anyone who's out there and is remotely interested. This is like a spiritual/creative practice that I am happy to share with others. But like most spiritual practices I am the one who will benefit from it regardless if anyone else reads what I write or approves.

So, here is my first entry in A Year Of Finding Love. Above is a photo of my two beautiful daughters, Sophie and Isabel. They are, and continue to be the loves of my life.

From the very beginning when they came into this world and my life they have been my greatest muses. I am truly blessed to call myself their mother. They, more than anything have inspired me to be more - more loving, more thoughtful, more ambitious, more creative, more capable than I would ever thought of for myself. There have been some hard and challenging times in my life, and they have come to my rescue by just the act of giving me the look of love that says,,, you can do anything Mama, you're the best, I know that you'll make everything ok, because you're strong, because we see something in you that we love and know we can trust.

And when I look at them , I KNOW that I can move mountains.

Neinah

Happy Belated Valentines...

I'd planned on writing sooner, but things don't always work out the way we plan. I did however manage to send my "Valentines" their Valentines on time. For some wonderful, unknown reason, this year, I was really overcome with a desire to spread the love.., I planned early enough so that I would have time to make all the sweet things I needed to, that I hoped would convey my love in the best way I know how..., HOME MADE (baked sweet things - gluten free of course, cards, and little dolls holding hearts with special heartfelt messages.)

To say I enjoyed myself is a huge understatement. As I sewed the little doll bodies, and made the heart shaped cookies, my thoughts dwelt on the special people in my life, and I understood what a gift it is to have people to love, and for them to be able to receive this huge, unpredictable, sometimes inarticulate, awkward, heart of mine.

So, Happy Valentines to all of you, even if you didn't receive a card, cookie or doll.

Love,

Neinah