One of my favorite things about visiting the museum, other than their wonderful exhibits, is getting to see different traditions from cultures around the world. It was "World Fest" day there today so we were lucky enough to see traditional Indian dancing and a concert by a beautiful Japanese woman, wearing a lavendar kimono, playing a shamisen. There was a Japanese cherry blossom branch next to her and it seemed like spring, so lovely, even though we are having snow flurries today.
We are so busy in our every day lives that it's a must to be able to slow down for a time and really enjoy these kind of traditions, a simple joy that's fun to share.
We are thankful for this wonderful sunshine today, even through our sleepy eyes. It makes me crave spring time all the more, this time of renewal. Lent has a way of sneaking up on me...the fish on Fridays is a good clue and wanting mushroom omelets to make it feel like spring...I had one last night. It's still cold here today, not spring yet. But it's more than about getting healthy again and giving up things, which always seem to go together or so I've noticed.
Emily has been so helpful with my project...sitting on my papers while I'm drawing and then sitting on the fabrics while I'm spreading them out. So I know she must be feeling better again and I'm so thankful for that.
Through meditating on the gentleness of your humanity, may I expand my capacity to live. Amen.
Emily hasn't been her usual cheerful self lately, although she has been laying extra-close to me (if that's possible.) It has been an inspiring time for me and this little bit of snow lately has really lifted my spirit too. I have been thinking of a new project and while looking through some old photo albulms with photos of Emily, as well as rubbing her soft fur, thought of an idea for an art quilt. I liked this photo because of the great shape of Emily, it will be challenging and interesting and I think I can pull it off. These are some of the materials I picked out, although now I'm thinking I need more colors. So I will keep drawing, planning, cutting, sewing and stuffing and with Emily's help, will be a fun art quilt and a simple joy.
The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. ~ Aristotle
Finally, I was able to enjoy some of this good sunshine today. Finally, the wind calmed down a bit and it doesn't sound like someone is jumping on our roof (some of our shingles came loose from those big winds!) It's not that I haven't been out, it's more like I'm getting spring fever already. Purging closets this early? That's me. I'm almost expecting it to be warm, but I know it's still winter here. The geese are back at the pond today, the squirrels are out busily playing, and Emily wonders why there are books where her sunbeam is waiting for her to enjoy? A good day to be thankful for our simple joys, enjoying the sunshine is one of our favorites.
What art offers is space ~ a certain breathing room for the spirit. John Updike
Emily was happy to see her sunbeam return after so many gray days, and we did get some more blustery snow flying yesterday, enough for it to drift up against my car and I had to break out my new snow shovel. It's much lighter than the one I had last year, but we are not getting the snow that we had here last year either. Small things to be thankful for, but I am. Emily was busy rolling around in the sunbeams, then discovered she could make the Wii remote move around too. I think she would have turned it on if she could, funny how she sits right in front of me when it's my turn to play.
I was actually trying to finish a book I was reading this morning, but she was making me giggle instead. This is a book I bought for Mary, but I ran out of things I wanted to read this week so I picked it up. It's called "Falling Leaves" and the author is Adeline Yen Mah.
Sweet little birds! Ok, not what Emily was thinking as she tracked them from her warm spot on top of the couch. There were many more than these all over the ground, and one really interesting looking brown one with spots on it, so elusive, but when I tried to carefully open the door, they all flew up in a hurry so I actually had to get this shot through the window. You can see what's left of all that snow we had flying around here yesterday, supposed to get another round today. Still not enough to go sledding yet, so we wait and watch the birds with Emily, sweet little fingerprints of God.
Colossians 4:2
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Snow is falling, a pretty light snow and everything is covered again today. I was looking forward to watching the snow clouds come in the other day but when I looked outside, all I could see was the snow flying and apparently the clouds were on the ground. I couldn't even see the field across the road. The sky is brighter now, the snow feels lighter and lifting my spirit.
I knew it would be another good day for baking and decided on this pan of brownies with chocolate chip cookies. I used to add chocolate chips to brownies, just for more chocolately goodness so when I saw this idea, I thought why not?
I also made some more dishcloths this week, while staying warm under one of my favorite afghans. We had some warm days this month, but now it actually seems like winter again, a good time to get some of my creative energy flowing and be thankful for simple joys.
