Closets Full of Fun and Peace

Closets have always been a playground for me. My mother was an artist with color with paints and she was an artist with color with clothes. I was a lucky girl. In addition to color, she made me skirts that twirl, an enjoyable part of being a girl — or at least I thought so.

The cut of my clothes and I had a bit of an adversarial relationship when my body changed. Menopause. Cancer and Hysterectomy. Aging. It took me a while to find my sea legs and flattering styles. I’ve always been an edgy dresser. It was easy as a skinny woman. What did that look like on a round woman? slowly, slowly… and luckily the clothes have changed. More women were asking that question!

Color and I had some disagreements because for years I felt I was always grieving.

There were times when both of those dissatisfactions overlapped. My closet wasn’t as fun — but I always loved great cloth! I got that from both Sam and Betty. Sam was a textile chemist.

But, I’ve once again come to terms with my body. This is who I am. I’m now swimming, so who I am is stronger. I like that. And I’m having fun with clothes again. Culling a bunch. Slowly adding some quality. And settling in for the ride (in my fun turquoise capris and white cowl neck sweater!)

Off to write. Glad I found the closet Peace again. Hope you do too! Have fun with your clothes… most of the time you have to wear them. Here’s a hint… Tell people when they look good… It’s a lovely, silly, easy way to offer people the Peace of the day.

Down to the Sea and Peace

Oh, this picture and our lovely weather, how could I not want to be swimming?

If climate change has the air this warm, who knows what temperature the gulf stream waters are…

But the ocean is eternal. Beautiful even in the rain and the fog and the snow.

She is the source of life… and the things we throw in her… we must do better…

What does that mean? I don’t know… But maybe we start by visiting enough to fall in love.

We breathe in the Peace of the Ocean Air… and come back refreshed, renewed and ready to go to work for the Earth and our Great Waters.

Heron of Majesty and Peace

This is one of those photos when you wonder why you bother to write! Fall fogs and large birds wading on rivers that somehow have found enough light to cast reflections.

It really is a reminder to look, look, look around. Every season has its beauty.

We just need to show up and be present. We need to allow ourselves to be fed by what is and, at the same time, fueled to protect it.

We need to stop being casual about what goes in the water. We need to stop being casual about Peace. It’s this morning, pictured here, and it’s everything that has to happen to make the river safe for the land and the birds and animals.

Peace in the Soup Pot

The weather was doing its fall best for a while, and then boom, it’s back to summer weather, or will be if the cloud cover disappears. Just for a few days, enough to confuse us!

But our taste buds were happy to change directions. mmmm winter soups! Squashes, fruits, onions, cheeses. Okay, I made the cheese thing up, but I like cheese in my soups! Maybe not this one, but some soups! Nothing could be finer.

One way or the other though, I tastebuds accept the Peace offering. Soup is good food!

The sweetest of Autumn to you, my friends, and I wish you the Peace of the soup pot!

Wonder and Peace

It’s morning and time to be about the day! I have a busy day filled with work and pleasure.

I’m going to work today at seeing everything I do as privilege.

I love my job and I’m privileged to do it.

I get to hear wonderful music.

I have dinner with a friend.

All in all, pretty wonderful.

What’s your day look like? How can you turn the conversation in your head from the immense amount of things you need to accomplish — and do you really need to accomplish those things or simply want to — to the privilege of being in life doing wonderful things.

Is laundry wonderful, you ask? Yes. We have clothes and we have a washer and a drier to accomplish a difficult task. And my favorite part of the laundry is the accomplish part. Laundry: you take a big ol’ pile of stuff and turn it into a folder pile of clothes to wear.

So if you have things to finish do that. If you have time to fritter away, do it mindfully. Be present to the day.

See the Wonder in your life. Embrace the Peace.

Full, Fall Moon

Fall has arrived and the temperatures and the leaves are both falling. The Full Hunter Moon, however is on the rise, glorious and huge.

It makes me think of bonfires and football games and digging out winter clothes for the first time. Why wool shorts were such a thing, when I was a kid, I’ll never know, but they were, and my mom made me a beautiful pair of rust plaid ones. (Remember when seams always matched?) I had a sweater set (purchased with money I’d made at the Fair) and knee highs to match. I was styling. (oh, my mom could sew!)

But the Moon is beautiful. Here‘s an article that tells you exactly why it will be so beautiful!

Tonight I’m going out on the river at dusk. I’ll watch the Sun set and the Moon rise and listen to our Riverkeeper talk as we eat dumplings and ride the Paddlewheeler, Hiawatha. I love when doing my work is a thing of beauty.

Enjoy the Moon, my friends. I wish you the Peace of its Beauty! May the glow of the Moon help to heal the world’s brokenness…

Porcupettes for Peace

Actually, I confess, I don’t know whether African porcupines are peaceable animals. Well thank goodness for Mr. Google, he had all sorts of information for me. African porcupines can way as much as 60 pounds — that’s a lot of quill pig!

They’re herbivores. They go about trying not to bother anyone. They collect bones… what’s that about? I’m sure there’s some sort of dietary thing there. They live about 20 ears. They’re monogamous. They weigh up to 60 pounds.

They’re not amused when people or animals bother them. These guys can have quills up to 14 inches long. But it’s the short ones that are more dangerous, lodging like fish hooks under the skin of their attackers. They have rattle quills on their tails which sound like hissing when the rattle. Mess with them, and they turn around and charge you, butt first.

But mostly, you leave them alone to go about their business. You work to keep their habitat healthy so they don’t become even more endangered than they are. Don’t buy things with their quills on them, because they’re very expensive and thus much prized. We pretty much have to stop buying things made out of animals. That’s just the way it is!

If you’re lucky, you get to cuddle a little (vewy carefully, vewy carefully!). Sadly the only reason you get to cuddle is because mama can’t mamma… So, hurrah for Dagny for taking care of this needy porcupette. (I’m in love with the name!)

Otherwise enjoy the picture and be grateful that there are those who take care!

Rustbelt City Peace

Rustbelt cities are being slowly reinvigorated. In this particular city, you can thank the arts and the artists for some of the movement.

First Fridays have laid claim to the down town. The Arts Center presents a constant (diverse) bill of interesting artists. And there are great restaurants.

There are still problems — more than they need. But there are changes and signs of hope.

Here’s to cities’ coming back! Here’s to the Peace of living in a place that works!

The Surprise of Peace

The world is plenty beautiful enough. But there is nothing wrong that I can see with occasionally gilding the lily.

Chihouly doesn’t have a subtle bone in his body. oh, I like that about him. Although actually, these beautiful tubes of glass are fairly ethereal… They float above this field of ferns and make you happy.

Beauty is great for happiness. Beauty and Happiness are both great for Peace. Celebrate!

Pumpkin Peace

It was brisk this morning. It’s still in the 30s at 9:00. There’s the first. There have been reports of frost. It’s October. Fall has fallen.

And it’s stunningly beautiful! The days are so clear. Walk across the bridge and the water sparkles.

Oh, it’s a busy time of year. But beautiful. And I find it fascinating how different the Peace I find in the days and the rhythm from the Peace I found only a couple short weeks ago.

The tomatoes, alas are gone, but the farm stands are filled with pumpkins and squashes. The bounty changes but continues to stun and delight. Cider, gingersnaps and pumpkin pies are all in. Change that palate to the weather appropriate food! Feast your eyes on the trees.

Figure out which sweater is the right sweater and what you wear under it and over it. Snuggle into the warmth.

The Earth offers endless opportunities to invite people in to Peace. We can capitalize on all of them. Peace of the Pumpkin to you, my friends.

Sacred Village

Building a World of Peace, Village by Sacred Village.

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