Too much busyness.....

Three gathas

 A downy, flicker, cardinal, and chickadee at the feeder

Eating suet and sunflower seeds

Nourishing me with their beauty

May we continue

Souvenirs of a life well lived

May I remember the joy in loving

And the sweetness of my connections and interbeing

Little wooden Japanese shoes

A father's love

And now a reminder that

I am his continuation. 

My dear Carrie

 My dear Carrie

Today is your birthday

Your day of continuation

You continue the practicality of Carolyn

The conviction of Bodgie

Lily’s willingness to push boundaries

David’s enthusiasm for helping others

And my love of the outdoors.

Love you dearly

Wishing you a day of celebration of

All that you are

A blessing

To us all

From Mark

An old Hassidic rabbi once asked his pupils how they could tell exactly when the night had ended and the day begun (daybreak is the time for certain holy prayers). 

 “Is it when you can see an animal in the distance and tell whether it is a sheep or a dog?” one student proposed. 

 “No,” answered the rabbi. 

 “Is it when you can clearly see the lines on your own palm?” another asked. 

 “Is it when you can look at a tree in the distance and tell it it is a fig or a pear tree?” 

 “No,” answered the rabbi each time.  

“Then, what is it?” the pupils demanded. 

 “It is when you can look on the face of any man or woman and see that they are your sister or brother.  Until then it is still night.”

As told by Jack Kornfield in his book:

Bringing Home the Dharma:Awakening Right Where You Are

Transitions

 Today is a little sad. I have to clear everything off the porches and cut back plants because they are starting the siding on Tuesday. I went through the tub with the squirt guns in it. I kept thinking that maybe some kids would come here someday and reawaken the fun of our annual family reunion squirt gun adventures but that hasn’t happened so it’s probably time to give them away. And I am wondering how I will hang up things to the new siding. It’s easy to pound a nail in the wood. So today is a day of letting go of things old with memories, and on Tuesday I will need to start embracing the new.

Whitney is trying to participate and has settled on soaking her dad's hat left on the picnic table.  One of my favorite pictures. 

Sending love to my Lily

 In Denver acting out because of everything she has experienced and learned and all that is in her heart. 

winter snow storm

Steel gray clouds

blanketing this forest in snow

black and white lines, 

snow marking the trees.

In solitude

I find

quiet and peace

and god in each snowflake.