My Saturday was laid back, an easy path to Joy. I was spending the afternoon at the home of a friend when he had to attend to some business and left me to entertain myself. Being in unfamiliar territory, I had to improvise some pleasure. Fortunately, the backyard was lushly landscaped and open for my perusing. The garden had been neglected for some months. On my first walkthrough, I just observed the variety of plants and noticed the themes of citrus and roses. It's January and the plants need help shedding last year's baggage as much as we humans do. I found some shears and got to work deadheading flower bushes, thinning fruit tree limbs, and taming the wild vines. I unearthed gnomes and fairies from piles of leaves and gave them new stages to delight us with painted grins. The final circuit through the garden reaped what fruit could be found in the cold new year's overcast sky: 3 limes, 1 pomegranate, and one coral rose. Coastal climates are always home for me :) In barely thirty minutes of activity, I felt rejuvenated myself, and proud to be a caregiver to the garden. Cecelia can't take care of her garden any longer. In abandoning it, there is motivation to replicate it-sharing cuttings with all the friends and kin. If we can't care for our family members any longer, we can care for plants, and cultivate the same feelings of unconditional love. My own garden is a seasonal vegetable bed near the front door. After summer tomatoes, I transplanted 3 kinds of kale. I'm trying an experiment of talking to my kale plants daily. They encourage me in gentle and familiar ways like only a mother could. I look to them for serious guidance, and in return am shown respect and clarity.
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April 21-28 2013, LaFayette, Northwest Georgia, Rivercane Rendezvous.
My second primitive skills gathering this year, and the second most magical experience this year :) For a brief week in Spring and Fall, a community comes together to share skills, songs, and meals. It feels like coming home. You can learn basics of primitive skills: how to make fire, cord with natural fibers, and nap flint tools. I chose to take workshops in basket weaving. I made a black ash hexagonal weave pack basket and a hemp twined water bottle holder. Very practical. I also attended plant walks where we talked to trees and flowers. More practical for a shaman. My favorite skill share was making flower essence out of may apple blossoms. The may apple wants to teach us to come into our calling, both as individual self fulfillment and community service. It helps stimulate and balance inner and outward expansion. Looking forward to Falling Leaves Rendezvous October 1-6 2013. http://www.primitiveskills.org/ Sarasota, Florida. The synchronicity of the universe placed me within an hours drive of my grandparents home so I could help my mom's parents get to their doctor's appointments and recover their strength and vitality. Sarasota is always a pleasant visit because there is so much art, flowers, and general beauty at your fingertips. No stop would be complete without a visit to the Selby Botanical Garden and Ringling Art Museum, both grounds crowned with enormous banyan tress. I learned that as much as I love to care for Mother Earth, caring for blood family is just as rewarding. New stories emerged from their childhoods and we had a lively conversation about the joys and pains of communal living. My dream is to one day live in an inter-generational community founded on principles of peace, abundance, and healing. Good news is... all my families (blood, star, crystal, spiritual) like it too! |
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