Pottery Class

I'm off to a new venture this morning - a pottery class! Another of the things on my list for years to do - and now I am. It seems I've pegged myself correctly - first and foremost I'm a student. More later today.

John O'Donohue - death poem

Let us not look for you only in memory/Where we would grow lonely without you./You would want us to find you in presence,/beside us when beauty brightens,/when kindness glows,/and music echoes eternal tones.

an excerpt from "On The Death of the Beloved" by John O'Donohue in his book "To Bless the Space Between Us".

This poem helped lift my spirits yesterday when contemplating the death of Fran Brawley, a friend who lived in Clemson and passed over on Sunday. The entire poem is beautiful, but this mention of "find you in presence" truly spoke to me. Because, that is where I continue to find Bob - in presence. I never anticipated that. Never expected that. But it happens. I would like my family and friends to look for and find me in presence when I pass over.

I just walked the labyrinth - it is in beautiful condition now with the green walls lining the brown path making it easy to find my way without even thinking about it. How blessed I am to have this lovely space in which to thrive!

Just being at HH

I'm on the deck overlooking the harbor. Had a very restorative day yesterday with two beach outings and a lot of knitting and just being. It is truly amazing how much difference a day makes away from my home environment. Even in my current state of retirement, things are different at home and away. As much as I love the Pond, I need the newness of scenery frequently. It does truly restore my soul. I'm watching the sun rise over the trees to my right. Yesterday a large boat came in and stirred up mud from the bottom of the harbor. It needs dredging again but the slip owners don't want to pay for it. And, permission is needed from EPA and other agencies. Everything gets complicated when we own stuff. I'm fortunate to be able to enjoy this environment without owning it. Time for a beach walk.

From Harbor Town at Hilton Head

Hi! I'm sitting on the deck on the 5th floor overlooking the harbor and the lighthouse! Brother Jim is out doing stuff and I'm about to go to the beach but wanted to at least say Good Morning to all. I realize how truly blessed I am to have this opportunity to recharge my batteries and get in a visit with my brother at the same time! I'm planning now to return to the Pond on Saturday. I am aleady so disconnected from everything I do normally that my thoughts are running on hold. So I won't waste any more of your time or mine. Perhaps later I'll have something wise to say.

An Ordinary Day

Overcast again this morning, the mist is stirring around as if it doesn't know where to go but mostly lifted by now. Thank God for the rain we got yesterday! We really needed it - and more. The buttercups are in full bloom now and two daisy blossoms are smiling at me by the doorsteps. I'm out of birdseed - so back to the Ag co-op today. Can't let my "livestock" go hungry! Yesterday was packed full of study - getting a brainfull of good stuff - I think I gain more from the Art of Doing Nothing retreats than the attendees will! I have been devouring a book that is a super combining of yoga and christianity - Jesus, Yoga, and The Way of Happiness - It has led me to reading the suggested Bible verses AND Patanjali's Yoga Sutras daily. What a powerful experience it is. The author presents a daily question that stirs up all kinds of insights. For example, today's question is: What is one change you need to make today? I have asked myself that question many times over the past ten years (since I retired) and always find it provocative - usually I get the same answer - which is revealing in itself! I'll confess - the answer always has to do with what I'm stuffing into my mouth.

A Rainy Day - Cateechee Fest Report

Photo by Ashley Grier - Thanks, Ashley!

I'm back at the window. It's raining softly - has been very dry lately so I am grateful. The circles forming on the Pond surface look like glittering stars, sparkling with light against the dark gray-green of the surface. Since it is overcast, there are no streaks of sunlight - just a softness that invites me to stay in today and just be. The temperature is perfect to leave the door open to the screen porch and to sit there, which I will with my next cup of green tea. There is much to be grateful for this morning. My presence at the Cateechee Fest in 96 was delightful! Many people spent time looking at the beautiful photos of the Pond on the tri-fold Karen built (with a bit of help from me, but not much). The 6-frame set of yoga poses she put together (all photos by Jim) was truly eye-catching and drew lots of questions and comments. The entire affair was exhilarating but my lasting impression is one of awe. As just one example, I met Martha, the potter, who has her studio right here in the 96 area and produces beautiful pieces. I can hardly wait to enroll in a class with her. The surprise is weird. Why shouldn't there be a potter in 96? If there is a yoga studio (The Yogatorium), why not a potter - and jewelry makers - and a writer of historical fiction for middle schoolers - and a lampshade producer - and numerous other talented people. My appreciation for my birthplace and hometown grew by leaps and bounds this weekend. My appreciation for Donna and Steve, Susan and Pat also soared. With only casual invitations to join me - THEY DID! And, we did a 15-minute demonstration yoga class right in the middle of all the booths in the Train Depot!

The cardinal is STILL flying into the windows of the Yogatorium. I have hung long wide ribbons over each window but he hasn't yet given up completely. The bluebird couple are well settled in their house and spend some time perched on the feeders every day. Goldfinches are enjoying the thistle seed regularly. And, it must be almost time for the hummingbirds to make their appearance. They seem to come earlier each year. All is well at the Pond. May your day be filled with peace.

Turtles and Living in the Moment

We had a visitor yesterday afternoon! He crawled down the drive toward the pond, took a bypass onto the carport and then found himself/herself stuck when trying to exit between a support post and the building! Just as Justin and I were trying to figure out how to help him/her - she lifted her left side and slid through on her right side! Had to be a female to be so smart!!!! From here she made her way around the building and into the pond. The question is: Do turtles move around from pond to pond? Why? There is a creek just a couple hundred yards down the road. Did she come from there? Or, did she just come out of our pond and take a Sunday afternoon walk then return home? Maybe she was celebrating Mother's Day with a little time off? That's what I did! Spent a few hours in the cloth shop buying patterns (after church) and celebrated with a Buster Bar Blizzard as lunch! Finished off the day with yoga with Martha, Dyan, and Sissy and then finished the new poncho I've been working on. A great day to just be living in the moment. And what nice moments they were!

Finding Happiness in Silence

The photo is of friend Faye in one of her own lovely knitted sweaters.

I'm on the porch this morning. There is a lovely breeze sending the water from left to right toward the dam almost wave-like, maybe more like ripples. The windchimes sing gently. The swing chair moves ever-so-slightly. No ducks, geese, turtles, or fish are in evidence. Where could they all be? Soon I will get out into the yard and begin a bit of yard work before the real heat of the day comes. But only a bit. I'm in a sewing/knitting mode right now and have to make myself do anything else. Had a nice finding this morning in Satchidananda's "The Golden Present" - The basis of all religions is: just be good and do good. I like to get to the simple statements of ideas. I'm reminded of Bob's request when I asked him what he thought about my writing or speaking preparations. "Tell me in six words what you are trying to say." Interesting. "just be good and do good" is six words! So often I get mired down in all the details and discussion and description that I lose sight of what is truly important - what I'm really trying to get at. My preparations for The Art of Doing Nothing weekends get that way sometimes. What I am truly trying to accomplish is: Helping people find happiness in silence.

Noticing

I'm tired this morning. I find it hard to manage my time. I got started studying a couple of books for self-inquiry topics and couldn't put them down. After two days of that, my head is full and tired. Thus, it is time to get away from here and do some kind of "artist's date." So, in a while, I'll head for town and the cloth shop. Pattern books take me away from intellectual stuff and into the ordinary world. I tried cooking last night, and that helped. Now I have cooked fresh collards, acorn squash, and chicken breast to enjoy again today. I'll bake some oatmeal cookies this weekend and that helps soothe my brain, too. I think this life of total choice is a blessing, for sure, but on the other hand it does take some learning how to live in such a state. Most of my 77 years were spent with most of my time defined by what I "needed" to do, not what I chose to do. Now I don't "need" to do anything except maintain my own happiness. Since I named myself a "Happiness Specialist" years ago, I have devoted much of my time to learning how to be happy myself. And, I've gotten pretty good at it. It's a matter of noticing - noticing feelings, emotions, body sensations, thoughts. What a luxury to have the time to notice. Oh, yesterday I noticed the first buttercup blossoms in my yard! What did you notice lately? What a blessing to have eyes that see! I wonder if the bluebirds saw the buttercup blossoms.

Bluebird photos

Good morning! What fun Picnik is! I managed to resize, crop, and autofix this photo taken through the kitchen window!
The other photo shows everything foreshortened since I zoomed in to get it, but there you see his home and the cabin in the background, as well as the grass-filled fire pit. I'm supposed to be at the laundromat in 96 by now but couldn't resist taking time out to play with the photo and get it on the way to you. More another time.

Fog, Bluebirds, and Self-violence

This morning the fog was so thick I couldn't see the Pond. It was like looking at a big wall of cotton. But now it is clear as a bell and a lovely day is developing - in more ways than one. I just finished my oatmeal and taking photos (through the kitchen window) of an Eastern bluebird perched on the feeder stand - later I'll work with them and select the best to post tomorrow. Before that I spent about an hour studying - preparing for The Art of Doing Nothing by searching for self-inquiry topics. And, I found a truly revealing one: Self-violence. Think on it. What do you do that violates your self? . . . eating too much, drinking too much, sleeping too little, blaming yourself for everything that goes wrong. . . In yoga terms, the sutra (threads - precepts) of yamas (abstinences) including non-violence and pratyahara (sense withdrawal) provide marvelous take-off points for study. Most often we ignore the self when we consider non-violence - but perhaps this is the most needed aspect to consider? How can we truly be non-violent to others when we are not to ourselves?

Good morning! I'm back at the window by the Pond. Wonderful days at Folly Beach with my Pod Sisters Faye, Sara and Kathy. They are in the picture with our scallops dinner on the marsh side of the house and me watching the sunset there. Then Faye and Sara knitting on the ocean side deck. I can't begin to describe the wonderful feeling of having shared time with these "sisters" for a few days. And, to make the time away even better, I spent a night before and after with Jim at Hilton Head. What a blast! So now, it's back to my life at the Pond and preparation for "the Art of Doing Nothing" weekends coming up beginning May 19. Ask if you want more info. But I will say the purpose is to lead you into a deeper practice and understanding of meditation. A great quote I saw in the latest Reader's Digest: "The nice thing about doing meditation is that it makes doing nothing quite respectable"...Comic Paul Dean.