Fifth Month Meditation

While scrolling through book images (for an upcoming house design) I found this treasure.  Reading the title aloud made my heart sing.  A meditation subject of gigantic, uncountable proportions.

How will my mind and heart and spirit even be able to contemplate this in the silence of my own small space.  Much to ponder...

"When we try to pick out of anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe." - John Muir

What is it?

Living in North Carolina we see lots of these spindles in antique and thrift shops.  They were used for the threads that were created and then woven into mostly utilitarian items such as sheets, towels, socks, etc.  The textile industry has all but disappeared from this area, unfortunately robbing many people of their work and livelihood.  

This spindle attracted my eye several years ago.  Although as you can see it was not originally from this area, it was so lovely that I brought it home.  Today it is becoming a tribute to those many people who worked in the textile mills throughout this area.  It was difficult work and took place in mills that operated with none of the 'comforts' of today's factories.

Of course my tribute will include punchneedle embroidery but who knows what else. What kinds of embellishments will I use?  I find that it is sort of creating itself as I go along.

"Humankind has not woven the web of life.  We are but one thread within it.  Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.  All things are bound together.  All things connect." - Chief Seattle

Today I am thankful for...

Sunshine

While walking these days, I'm aware of the warmth of sunshine on my shoulders.  I feel it sinking into my body, warming my bones.  Thankful am I.

I have been blessed to see the sun rise in the desert...

...the sun set over the ocean...

...the sun filter through the sheltering trees of the woods and forests.

Oh yes, I am ever so thankful.

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow." - Helen Keller

"Garden Cottage"

Who lives in this quaint country cottage?  

I think its someone who loves spring as much as we all do.

I think flowers are on her mind all year round - gathering seed packets over winter and then strewing the seeds come the warmer spring days.

I wish her a long growing season.

"Earth laughs in flowers." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Meadowood Trail

Just up the street from our house there is a street called Meadowood Trail.  I love to walk it because it goes down a hill to a small stream and it gives me a nice walk up hill afterward.  In the winter I often have to skip this lovely street because it is the last to melt after snow or ice.  Right now, at the bottom of the hill, the trees are still looking a lot like winter.

But - earlier in the walk, before it dips down too much, spring is definitely here.  What a wonder to walk beneath these flowering trees - showing up beautifully against a perfect blue sky.

The Forsythia, one of my favorites, is already preparing its yearly take over of any area where it might pop up.  No one has been along to trim it so I get the full beauty of its bright yellow color.

Every winter I feel like a caterpillar wrapped up in my cocoon and every spring I feel as if I'm awakening as a butterfly.  Its obviously time to spread my wings.

"Spring has returned.  The Earth is like a child that knows poems." - Rainer Maria Rilke