paintedpinkmountains

In honor of Womens' History Month, let me begin by honoring the first woman I have looked up to. The first woman to hold me, to care for me, to bear the responsibility of being everything that I would and will need, all wrapped up in one person.  Because even though everyone in my family would play a crucial role in raising me, and to this day each of them (here and gone) continues to guide me in one way or another, it is and always will be a childs' mother who can fill a place that no other can. My beautiful mother is and always was my best friend.  I've given her every grey hair on her head and she's never wavered in her support.  Even when she disagrees with me, she supports me.  I was a really good baby but a rather challenging teenager, and while I am becoming calmer in my years, I still am quite stubborn, and she continues to be there.   My mother has always been my biggest and most encouraging fan/support when it comes to writing, yet I'm at...

Seven years ago, at this very moment, our little part of the village was bustling with police activity and a dark cloud full of grief that would continue to take up residence for a long time after. Today, it was a bright, sunny, quiet morning with few noises when I left to go to work.  They're calling for more snow tomorrow.  When I read back through your journals you mention, quite often, the beauty of the snow.  I know how much you loved winter, and that helps me appreciate it more than I did even as a wonder-filled child. I think of you every time I look out the window and see it sparkling under the moonlight.  When I'm standing at the sink in the kitchen doing dishes, I love to watch the birds at the mock orange bushes.  Cardinals often take a perch to watch me too but I imagine you know that. There are still many moments where I feel like someone is standing behind me, or is hanging out in the next room watching me.  I see movement out of the corne...

Dear Colton – There is a photo stored away in a box somewhere in my closet from about 26 years ago.   I was 13 years old and holding you as a baby who had just been born.   Your birth was such a cause for celebration to all of us who had been close to your family.   Your mom prayed for you for many years.   My mom, her best friend, prayed right along with her.   You were a miracle and it brought us all such joy to welcome you.   You were a pretty big boy, too, getting stuck on your way earthside, but you made it and we all celebrated your arrival. I remember one day when you were about 6 months old, we were all sitting on the pool deck at my parents house.  My mother and I, and you with your mother.  Somehow you tumbled into the pool and for some reason, my reflexes were the quickest.  I jumped right in and pulled you out, and you would survive. You weren't in the water very long at all, but any mother who has been through any situatio...

It's extremely difficult to focus on work when the boss comes in with his puppy, tells you to keep an eye on her, and walks out the door.  So then this happens.  This little girl is quickly becoming my best friend. Even though she wants to chew my hair, and my shirt, and lick my jeans (she smells my doggie). On another note, I was able to get out for a hike over the weekend.  It was a little on the chillier side and I noted the possibility of snow in the forecast, but I went out anyway.  Met a friend there and the trail was much busier than I expected it to be.  Found a group hanging out when we got to the top of the rocks and passed at least three more groups of hikers on our way down.  It started snowing before we started our descent, and it added such a peaceful air around us.  I'm ready to get out again, but it's looking like we'll be snowed in this weekend.  Good thing I have plenty of yarn.

Todays distraction is brought to you in honor of the following: David Bowie, who I've loved and have been listening to since I was old enough to recognize truly good music. Movement, my word of the year, combined with the first video below, so that everyone can pay respects to Mr. Bowie and dance!!!! My dad, who would have celebrated his 69th birthday on the day David Bowie left the earth.  I like to think that where ever they are, David sang Happy Birthday to my dad :). So, if you haven't already (because obviously social media has already covered millions of shares), or if you have and would like to again (me! me!) here's some David Bowie for your enjoyment, nostalgia, and distraction. My favorite! A version I remember seeing when I was very young, but have forgotten about. 6:08 I would totally have bought an audio book of David Bowie does Nursery Rhymes and played it for my kids every night! I've heard him refer in this way to his process numerous tim...

I'm going to go through some creative experimentation this month and work on finding some routines that work for me.  For example, Tuesdays Distraction may turn into an every Tuesday list of things that I find which make me feel good and spark encouragement to create and move.  On the other hand, I might decide that I want to call it something else and do it on another day of the week.  Or maybe I'll do it today and then not ever want to do it again. We shall see. The point is, with my word for 2016 being "Movement" I'm just going with it when it hits me.  Rather than sitting and thinking on things, wondering if it's precisely the way I want to do it and then never really following through. Yay for movement!  For now, please enjoy the things that have been distracting me, but in a good way. The photo above is a pair of jeans I'm mending using a Japanese hand mending method. I can see this being my new obsession (because I do occasionally need a break ...

From the moment I began to think about my  guiding word  for 2016, I knew exactly where I would end up.  I still went through the process  Susannah  provides each year, knowing that there is always the possibility another word might speak to me more.  Besides, I love digging, analyzing and ensuring that I'm going from my soul.   2015 began with the word "Thrive" but quickly turned into "Presence".  That word was perfect for the year as I worked very deeply with being where ever I happened to be at any given moment.  It forced me to notice both inside and outside of myself.  It brought me a sense of calm. But as the last quarter of the year has come, I felt the unsettledness that I always begin to feel as autumn peels away the layers grown throughout the year to expose its depths.  Still keeping my presence, I truly saw my own naked branches for the first time.  My truths and my fears are uncovered and before winter e...