Stuff Happens

 This week

Also this week, times two

😷

May we be well enough.

That's it.

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2022 

 

Both sides now...

For more, go here, to NPR...or search around 🙂

Of course the word 'clouds' jumped out at me!

Both sides together

I already shared this side

The other side, with the little house button I found.

As soon as I saw it in the bag, with all of the others...

it hit me like a ton of bricks...

after all of these years, I thought had made Dee a Medicine Bag...

but I had not

I had not.

🏚

I think the timing ended up to be just right.

Many of the yarns are from Dee too.

Wonderful

~~~~~

May the thread that runs through, run deep

May you pick it up when needed

May you drift with the clouds, all the way home

xo

Photographs by NAE ©2022

July Life

 

when Big was Little and Little is now so big!

Taking a Walk by John Prine

A man came to our house

I believe it was yesterday
I would have invited him in
But I didn't have a lot to say

His anticipation of me opening the door
Outweighed my apprehension as it never had before
And drove my concentration
Right through that hardwood floor

Oo-oo, a-ha

I'm taking a walk
I'm going outside
I'm taking a walk
I'm just getting by

There's a girl in the white house
I don't even know her name
Her disheveled appearance
Speaks volumes of shame

It's an embarrassing situation
But a situation just the same
The way she walks on others
And never takes the blame
Upsets my constitution
Beyond its mortal frame

Oo-oo, a-ha

I'm taking a walk
(Taking a walk)
I'm going outside
(Going outside)
I'm watching the birds
(Taking a walk)
I'm just getting by
(Just getting by)

Found a card in the pocket
Of my worn out overalls
From a girl in Cedar Rapids
Now residing in Idaho Falls

I wish you could have been there
When she opened up the door
And looked me in the face
Like she never did before
I felt about as welcome
As a Wal-Mart Superstore

Oo-oo, a-ha

I'm taking a walk
(Taking a walk)
I'm going outside
(Going outside)
I'm taking a walk
(Taking a walk)
I don't need a ride
(Just getting by)
I'm watching the birds
(Taking a walk)
Flying so high
(Going outside)
I'm just getting by
(Taking a walk)
I'm just getting by

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Pat Mclaughlin / John Prine

Taking a Walk lyrics © Corn Country Music

July 6th, I cut off my ponytail again (last done in January 2021).

Just about 8 inches, came off leaving a curve. Good enough.

My hair looks so gray! Funny how it does not look the same here, wet and cut off.

Shorter = Lighter

The the part I miss, being able to braid my hair.

Another Medicine Bag was completed. This one for the one who likes Mustard, Tan and Pink.

I again used what I had. Thanks go out to Deb G, Dee, and Hazel.

I was excited to work with this color combo and am pleased with the way it turned out.

She got a little bling with a clear, diamond-cut shaped button.

For these last 4 bags, I sincerely hope my collection of colors touches on the color shades they like.

I just need to complete the assembly process of the bags and the rest of what goes with them.

Of course, when something is in your mind...it pops up everywhere.

So, pink flowers and a tan spider at work, along with purple painting - to - our walk today filled with tans, yellows and some purple.

The colors of the recent weavings.

Love how things connect.

Work life provides a different take on being with nature, but still allows for it.

Thursday's Trust Time was a bit unfocused, but I did engage for almost 15 minutes. I returned again and again to just the word itself and told myself 'focus til the next stoplight'. Ha. Also, there was something Jude said in her comment here last time. Trust - Mistrust. I've been considering her words and realize that I think I lump all my trust thoughts into just the one word of trust. It's not really reflective of what I am thinking about...at least, I don't think so. ha. Then when going off to read official definitions, I came upon this exploration of language:

MISTRUST VS DISTRUST

Today we went to where the solitary horse lives. But, it was a very brief visit. The man who owns the horse had parking suggestions for us. While I'm glad he shared the better place to park, so we wouldn't get towed, his tone put a damper on things and we headed out. However, while there, we did see two interesting birds.  There was a lot of tan out there today.

So, instead we headed over to one of our early hiking spots. There was a lot of tan there too. We've started backing into parking places, to play it safe. It was only in the low 80's, but still felt so hot in full sun.

We hiked along, noticing. There was but one Purple thistle. There were many dozens of bees. There were new Native plants added and some invasive weeds removed. The chap that planted the oak saplings of a year or so ago must still be coming by as there was hoses in ground to water them & some looked to be still growing. I wondered if he is the one working to return the land here to California scrub brush? There was a teeny flower, which had me thinking of Jude's Perspective in 36 inches. 🙂

I've landed on "nature shows" lately (added to our beloved PBS murder shows!). I'd say I am quite enjoying them. You may too. 🙂

AMERICA OUTDOORS WITH BARATUNDE THURSTON 

(I've enjoyed every episode so far. I read his book, "How To Be Black" - which I still recall. That's high compliment these days!)

~~~~~~

PATOGONIA: LIFE ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD

(I have two recorded to watch and there's a new one tonight, so we'll see. They look stunning)

LIFE FROM ABOVE

(I've only seen "Colorful Planet", which I really enjoyed. It was fun to see the cranberry bogs in MA! I look forward to "Patterned Planet" - especially because of my long love affair with the patchwork look land can take on).

~~~~~~

It seems there are many of this kinds of shows on these days.

I find them soothing in the weary days.

I find them exhilarating during the long days of heat.

I find them inspiring in my interest in ongoing discovery.

I find them to be full of connections to all of you and those in my daily life.

~~~~~

Lastly, I've really enjoyed this show for its connections to history, social justice (or rather, injustice!), and the unique (or not) make-up of families. I find the host, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. to be empathetic, intelligent and kind. After learning more about him and his own life, even more respect was to be had. I have to say when I very first saw this show I was a tad bit annoyed with the marketing plan of only having celebrities on as guests. Why can't regular folks get a chance with those resources? This is a rhetorical question. I know why. But, I still wish they'd do a few charity episodes. 🙂

FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Blurry in the breeze.

Teeny as my pinkie fingernail!

Back to the car we go, after a nice visit with the place all to ourselves!

May you live within the heat

May you live with learning

May you live with loved ones

xo

Photographs by NAE ©2022

Trust and Weaving

 

~~~~~

~~~~~

I've been participating in Trust Thursday, but haven't said much of that here on the trail.

However, I've been planning to put something here, as it has been an important practice.

~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

These are...altered, redacted, edited

Today's added thoughts in italics

Welcome to Thursday Trust Time - Meditations While Driving (ha)

First note: Doing this while driving was the goal...I kept returning my mind to that one word 'trust'. Trust has always been a hard one for me. If I look at my life as a whole cloth...and all it holds...wants/insecurities (security) and fears...

I thought of Grace speaking to fear & trust...

So, I kept going back to that word (trust), what it means to me, what I'd like from it, what I can learn to embrace/manifest more etc.

..to intentionally turn off the noise (car radio, in my own head), even if for only 5 minutes is a good thing, even if it looks different from a car then from a hill, near grapevine, or a porch or from somewhere in the USA travels.

Just focusing on this one word/idea and what comes from that has been a gift

6-23-22: My first thought was I am not good at it, trust

But, immediately, I thought: but I can do it better. I don't have to remain not good at it.

______________________________

After all, every day I commute 27 miles each way to work. I just get in my car and go and Most of the time I don't feel like a mishap will happen...I just drive through some somewhat sketchy neighborhoods (not the worst, but I wouldn't want to break down or have an accident there)...and trust I will get where I'm going. This was something to consider.

________________________________

Okay then, so where DO I trust?

(boy that was something to think about!)

_________________________________

...mistrusts have left a deep imprint.

How to build, reduce or 'reframe' trust/fear? Or do they work in tandem? 

6-30-22: First thought: Trust - Mind over Matter (AKA Manifestation)

Trust is powerful...where to place it? How to teach trust?

7-7-2022: Trust all will be okay (list was included)...Blind trust or ? → being prepared

Do or don't Trust and Fear have to walk hand in hand? The unknown does not have to induce fear...trust it to be okay...it is just unknown...

Okay, obviously my mind goes in circles!

7-15-2022: The first thought responding to my, okay - so, settle into Trust Time was: Trust is like a prayer (okay, was not expecting that! Mmmm...)...trust that the same bad things won't happen again...trust that things will happen as supposed to (this is like a 'broken record' as we used to say long ago)...Trust is active (that provided lots of connected ideas to ponder)...each of us 'sits with Trust' in our own way...

That last one really landed with me. My way of doing this Thursday Trust Time does not include sitting still (well, I'm still - the wheels are moving!)...it does not include closing my eyes (not a good plan!)...nor does it include any nature (except what I see through the windshield, which is plenty)...AND...it Does include me writing notes after the 5 minutes or so are up (I've been spending way more than 5 minutes with this). I spent some time considering this and came to the conclusion that it was all okay. This note making is how I process, perhaps let go or view from a new perspective and this is embraceable in a good way. This is how I do Trust Time and it is more than fine! So is that trusting things to be okay? 😃

I'm not sure if I will continue to post about Trust, as most of the running commentary in my head need not be shared here. However, I've opened up here because the whole process has been interesting for me, from the perspective of what just pops into my head fully formed, ready to be contemplated. Fascinating. I wonder what will come to mind this Thursday. Last week, Thursday was on Friday, because life happened. What will happen next?

Back to Weaving

This is the side without the button (above). I like the little smudge of red in there. This is something I want to play around with some more, adding bits and bobs of color...tucking it in here and there.

I blurred out the button, for now. I will just say that there is some blue in it, which works nicely with the woven blue section.

It is soft and a bit squishy. I'm loving this one so very much!

~~~~~

It's funny, in all of my thoughts and meditations while weaving this bag, there was a feeling about how long ago it Should have been made. But, upon completion, my first thought was that I just need to trust that things will come to me, happen when they are supposed to. I seem to forget that one so often.

I'm super pleased with the end product, but how it came to be started and the process itself has been just as valuable.

This medicine bag was good medicine for me, as it brought that reminder with it, which reduced some of the guilt I'd felt. How's that for some weaving therapy? I hope it will bring good medicine to the one who receives it.

~~~~~~

And long last, as I close this winding trail of Trust and Weaving, I will add that as I put items together that will go along with the other 3 medicine bags, I suddenly remembered that their is a fourth bag for this group that must be created. This is the gal who likes mustard, tan and pink. With the beautiful yarn gifts from Hazel, Dee, Deb G...it's going to be so fun to weave! Thank you ladies!

~~~~~

May you go your own way

May you travel with others

May you remember, sooner or later

xo

Photographs by NAE ©2022

Even More Weaving at Home

 

Small treasures

These were the choices I had pulled out for the "gal who likes yellow" bag.

Aren't they beautiful?

The clear button was a choice for the last bag I made...until I spied the deep blue one that is!

I quickly decided a hard 'no' to the greens and amber/yellowish.

But, those two suns...that was the decision to be made. Darker or more shiny?

I asked J. his thoughts and he said shiny.  But, I preferred the dark one.

I lay them on the bag, each side, over and over again - trying to choose.

Then I had a thought, an Ah-Ha if you will.

I liked the darker one (shown here). I did. Me.

This wasn't for me...it was for the "gal who likes yellow".

I chose the shiny one (as seen in the last post).

It's funny how he chooses so quickly, something I at times associate with putting little thought into it, which may indeed be true at times...while I dissect every aspect before coming to the best choice I can make. I do this for most all choice making. Very deeply considering. Why?

Part of my thoughts included the idea that I was raised in a family the held the values of taking good care of our belongings so they would last...of making wise choices, so you would not have to rebuy the item again soon, if at all...and to do this for the best price possible. So when we needed a place for our TV in the early 1980's, boy did I shop around!! lol I thought we'd have it forever. In the end, it was a piece that he took ownership of after the split. So, there you have it. On the other hand, my niece and her young family have furniture that was bought in the 1950's by my mom and birth-father. That's how we've rolled.

None of this is all that important, but came to mind as Grace makes choices on bags of cloth and because I've been attempting to relax a bit in my choice making. In the end, what of it really matters?

~~~~~~~~

Anyway, while digging through my button bag for the choices for the last two bags,            .                        I rediscovered this one (above). The other side will remain secret for now, but I will just say that it will be added to this new bag, which is for someone who likes the things depicted on the button topside. 

Now isn't that mysterious?!

I will add that I can relate to the joy grace feels in plunging her hands into those 13 bags of cloth bits, because I love plunging my hand into this big baggie of buttons!!

This warp thread was gifted to me by Dee, so big thanks go out to her! 

The weft threads will be comprised of yarns gifted to me by Dee, Hazel and maybe others. Thanks go out to these two ladies right at the start.

I'm super excited by this one and having great fun combining colors for this gal and trying to think like her...how would she choose? 

~~~~~

This leads me full circle back to thoughts about choice making. Tonight I'm thinking that when trying to make a choice in a way that is not your norm, it sure relieves some of the pressure!

May all of your choices feel good

May all of your gifts bring enjoyment to their recipients 

May you enjoy yourself along the way

xo

Photographs by NAE ©2022

More Weaving at Home

 

The purple one was completed, only to notice an error or two.

Well, rats.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Normally, I've come to accept these little errors as a part of the nature of my weaving.

But, I don't care for a larger loop (in dark purple at the top of the bag), as seen above, as it could catch on things, thus causing more of a problem. If I notice before stitching the bag shut, I have little tricks to 'blend' the weaving. I really need to remember to examine in good light, with eyes that are not weary.

However, this time around, I did not do that...which led to a serendipitous addition to the bag.

In the past, I've added beads, charms and buttons to these bags, so I of course thought...Mmmm...what do I have that would be the right addition to secure that loop? Then I remembered this starfish charm & story card. Perfect. The recipient will know this, she may have one of her own...so she will especially appreciate the message of this. My card is going on to someone else.

You may know this story yourself.

It is a bit sappy, but I've been known for that too. To me, the overall message is true, we make a difference in the lives of others in small gestures and connections...in so many different ways really. I guess this just says that we have to keep on trying. that's it.

There's always another side to the story, eh?!

~~~~~

On to the next one...

These photos don't show the true colors, even with some adjustments.

As an example, the purple seen above, is the same purple seen in the last bag (as an error).

And since the third gal said that she likes: Purple/Amethyst, and also jewel type tones like Sapphire, Teal, Magenta...so now I will build that one, pulled from the yarns I own. I kinda wish I had more of the colors of which she speaks.

Looking at pretty photos to explain the differences between teal & turquoise has been a delightful aspect to preparing for this one! It was funny how many sites use a duck for a visual of teal!

I searched and pulled together "her colors"...added in some embroidery floss for the ones I didn't really have and off I went.

Part way through I went back to my buttons, charms, and beads to choose one for this bag and the yellow one too. I found some that would work and then I remembered the amazing blue vintage buttons and dug a little deeper. I had one left!! Perfect. I also remembered 'sun' buttons and found I had two to choose from. All of this button bag rummaging led to other discoveries and a new idea too.

I also recalled this yarn that would surely add some cheer to the bag!

Three days home gave me time to work on these and I am so grateful.

I hope they like their gifts.

May you reach and dig and discover

May you shine

May you give

xo

Photographs by NAE ©2022