Family Weekend

Away for the weekend visiting Luke and Susan's family in Atlanta area.  Here's a photo of me and Jack taken while we were checking to see if he is as tall as I yet - not quite, a couple more inches to go for the 14-year-old.  Astounding how fast they grow and mature.  Then Sam whisking Cookie Monster ice cream.  Delightful weekend making ice cream with Sam in our new ice cream churn.  On Saturday evening we made vanilla and yesterday Cookie Monster - blue.  Didn't get but one lick of the paddle but they both tasted great!  So, now more ice cream will be homemade by me!  I'll get back to the esoteric believer soon.

Christianity and Yoga

Christianity and Yoga.  Are they compatible? Are the science of yoga and the religion of Christianity truly compatible or are they in conflict?  My belief is that they support each other.  I'll be spending the next several weeks studying this and will occasionally pass along the development of my understanding.  Two words (exoteric and esoteric describing believers have come to my attention from Justin O'Brien's A Meeting of Mystic Paths: Christianity and Yoga that have helped me.  Exoteric- the conventional approach to religious truth in our culture wherein believers feel at home among the Bible, the dogmas, beliefs, and rituals with an emphasis on communion and fellowship.  These believers live within the borders of their beliefs, which define their religious consciousness.  The Baptist has one way, the Quaker another.  The symbols of a preferred denomination--the church's beliefs and activities - define for believers their attitude toward life's expectations.   I am paraphrasing his words.  I have often envied the exoteric believers their comfort and security in their beliefs.  I, too, have a strong belief system in place from my Lutheran upbringing.  But somehow I know there is more and am exploring the more.  Tomorrow I'll write about the esoteric believer.   As a clue, one of my teachers refers to us as "believers in exile."

Guest House and Grounds Work

Can't believe it's been 6 days since I wrote.  My apologies to my followers.  Much has been going on.  In particular, work on the guest house and grounds.  Here's a photo of mulch being put in place.  Fortunately, Frank's 1985 Dodge pickup has a dump bed and it made the mulch distribution much more efficient.  In less than an hour 3 cubic yards of hardwood mulch was put in place!  Some around the guest house and some in front of my cottage.  The painting of the interior has been completed. Jim, my  brother spent three nights there as our first guest and now Grace is staying a few nights.  So, even before official opening September 1, the guest house is in use.  (The fleas appear to have fled.)  While Jim was here he put in many hours of labor washing windows whose frames  must not have been cleaned in ten years!  So, things are moving right along.  Amazing how much fun it is to have a place to actually use some of the accumulated stuff lying around in my shed and cottage that is really extraneous.  If you have extraneous stuff that an empty house might need, pass it on.  If it's not needed, I'll pass it along to the Faith Home, my favorite charity.  Please make it simple items.  I'm determined to maintain a feeling of spaciousness throughout with virtually no decoration other than candles, small lamps, floor cushions, etc.  It is intended as a house of serenity and peace.

Namaloha

What a great couple of days!  Brother Jim has been here working very hard on the guest house washing windows, cleaning carpet, and many other chores!  What a blessing to have this time with him working side by side much of the time.  He is the first to have slept in the guest house.  We also did some shopping for mattresses and box springs.  Soon we will have three single beds and a queen one so that all four bedrooms will be ready for sleepers.  This project is such fun!  It's almost like playing house when we were children except this time - it really is a house.  One bedroom is all blue ("Summer Breeze"), one is off-white with one wall blue, one is off-white with a yellow wall and the master bedroom is all off-white ("Coconut Milk").  Finally, the utility room is all of those colors in some place or another.  The kitchen cupboards have all been cleaned inside and shelf paper put in place.  It is truly amazing how much fun I'm having with this project!  I can only imagine how much pleasure my guests will have staying there.  Did I tell you the fleas are gone?  At least for now.  Stay tuned for more on the creation of Namaloha (combination of Namaste and Aloha - sort of a hello/goodbye greeting).  Not set in stone yet so if you have a better suggestion for a name for our guest house, spit it out!

Pond Project

The dam decisions have been made.  In February the dam will be broken and drained so it can dry.  By March or April, depending on the drying process - that is how much rain we get  - the work will be done rebuilding the dam and clearing all the surrounding area so that we can have access to the entire perimeter.  A major undertaking, but what a lovely view I am envisioning!  We are accepting donations to assist in this project - estimated to cost $13,000.  I know there are those of you out there who would like to contribute. Please make checks payable to Mayland Farm or to Jaquie Haymond, whichever you prefer, and write on your check "Pond Project."…….AND, please come fish and don't throw them back!  We may have a fish netting party when the dam is broken, but it would be great for you to come catch all you can before that!  Todd, Jim, and I ate 9 delicious bream last night for supper.  You truly should take advantage of this opportunity!

Dam Renovation

This morning from the porch I am envisioning the Pond being drained to renovate the dam, which is leaking.  Much of my serenity comes from the water.  I am trying to envision the water 99% gone with hopefully enough water left in the middle to keep some of the fish and turtles alive.  It's not a pretty picture.  On the other hand, one of the major learnings I gained from my forestry training is that in order for new life to exist, space must be created.  That is, old trees must be removed so new ones can be born and thrive.  So it is with all of life.  "Out with the old, in with the new."  The Pond is about two feet lower than it was designed to be. The plan is to restore it to the original state.  It will be an exciting adventure to watch the process - particularly after the work of humans
is done and renewal is left in the hands of God!

Listen to Your Life

A partial quote from Frederick Buechner (Beekner) friend John sent.  Comes from Ariana Huffington's "Thrive."  Listen to your life.  See it for the fathomless mystery that it is.  In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden part of it, because in the last analysis, all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.   WOW!  Listen.   How rare are the times when I manage to do that.  Even here in this paradise of quiet where listening is so easy.  Where noise is at a minimum and all sounds are from God.  At this moment a mourning dove is calling.  An entire day is ahead of me with no demands.  What a blessing it is to be ….. to just be.  To be still and listen.  To my life.  …..all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace…….

Faith

Goodness!  Where do the days go?  This morning I have a delightful read for you from Frederick Buechner's "Wishful Thinking".  Faith is better understood as a verb than as a noun, as a process than as a possession.  It is on-again-off-again rather than once-and-for-all.  Faith is not being sure where you're going, but going anyway.  A journey without maps.  Tillich said that doubt isn't the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith…..Amy introduced us to this man's writing Sunday at our "Finding Spirit Here Now" meeting.  It is absolutely delightful!  If you haven't sampled it, please do!  I love that "faith is not being sure where you're going, but going anyway."  That's me.

Guest House Painting

Again, I'm on the porch, with a light sweater on, relishing the absolutely beautiful morning.  The sun is breaking over the trees and making long shadows on the Pond and the Labyrinth.  Last evening,  two does and a fawn jumped the fence into the pasture and danced over to the water for their evening cocktail.  And, hundreds of blackbirds (grackles, I think) perched in two maple trees at the edge of the dam and then all at once flew west together in a beautiful mass of black that seemed endless.  This morning it is quiet.  Only the coffee maker is sounding.  Since I have my hearing aids in, I can hear lots of tiny high-pitched sounds of insects and small birds.  What a happy place this is!  ……Soon, we will be able to share it with anyone who wishes to enjoy The Pond.  The guest house is being painted inside and so far all rooms have Kilz at least and we are closing in on paint - only two rooms left to get their new coats of paint.  Fortunately both the bathrooms are done - the really time-consuming ones.  Probably the last two will get done today.  At any rate, September 1, if not before, we will open it to guests.  Several years ago we had weekend guests who enjoyed the entire facility for two or three days and we look forward to doing that again.  The photo is Todd painting the primer. Notice how very dark the room is--the whole house was that same dark paneling.  Soooooo, now the light will shine. In many ways.  We hope to increase the numbers of people who come for yoga, energy healing, spiritual companioning, and JUST BEING.   It is a great place for personal retreats and even groups of friends.  The guest house has four bedrooms and two baths and, of course, a full kitchen.

The Happy Place

Good morning!  What a lovely morning - it is actually cool.  I even went into the winter clothes for a light jacket!  We are so very fortunate living here in the Southeast.  Have you ever thought about the fact that here we get almost four seasons almost equal in length?  That is one of the facts that makes this a delightful part of the country in which to live.  When I left South Carolina in 1954 to begin my life away from home as a new bride, we swore we would never come back to South Carolina.  Amazing what maturity can do to a person - and to the State of South Carolina.  Now we are a nesting place for a wide diversity of transplants from all over the country who also know what a delightful place we live in.  Thanks be to God for them and for this happy place where I live.  Does the "happy place" remind you of Brer Rabbit?  I've got to google and find out if I'm remembering correctly.  Or, perhaps you can tell me?