Loud Dandelion Spring Peace, llvl

One day there’s nothing and then the next time you look there’s been an explosion. (What has a stealthy beginning to a loud and insistent life? Dandelions!) Last week the violets held court on the lawns. Nothing else to see but grass. This week, dandelions in full bloom, cheerfully giving the violets a run for their beauty.

I like sturdy, cheerful things that steadfastly refused to be moved from their purpose. I’d like to be that. Although I swoon for violets, I’ve probably got more in common with the dandelion. And truth to tell… don’t flower fritters sound delish? Yumhoo.

But what’s great? for this space in time we get ’em both. Delicate little violets. Sturdy little lions. (and in the gardens dragons! such fierceness!) Mother Earth’s a canny one, isn’t she?

Today it’s raining… good day to pull up your head and take a walk. The allergies can’t bother you, and truthfully, the flowers are just as beautiful in the rain and the walk as healthy. Peace on the lawn with raging flowers. Go figure.

Spring Peace from Another Home, llvl

To have lived somewhere else long enough to know the seasons is to discover the peculiarities and particularities of that place. Spring in California is a slow unfolding, it starts early and proceeds in haphazard fashion, one lovely flower at a time.

Living in places where the weather is warmer often means richly scented trees. To be out walking at night (a city pleasure) and have Jasmine and Mock-Orange dofting… it’s heaven. And it holds my heart. It will never be my only home… but it will always hold a part of me and those memories smell as sweetly as the trees… Peace enters us in so many ways. And we can offer it in as many. Sweet Peace. Sweet home away from home. Sweet local life wherever you find it, wherever you make it.

Spring Sabbath Peace, llvl

Oh, another beautiful Spring Day — clear and cool and sunny. Having “weathered” Winter, it’s lovely to have Spring linger and not just toss us into Summer.

The longer it’s cool, the longer my beloved violets will hang out. And that makes me happy. Sometime today, whatever else i do, I’m finding time to cram a neighborhood walk in to admire the violets dancing in the lawns.

I’ve had a particularly busy week. It’s been fraught with emotional ups and downs and loaded with things to do. They’re finished, they were mostly successful! and me? I’m exhaustipated! So today, I’m claiming the rest the sabbath offers. despite the beauty, there’s a nap in my future, I’ll eat things that are good for me, and maybe, even, pick up my room so it doesn’t make me crazy. Maybe later, I’ll read a book — if I can find one that asks nothing of me. Because nothing is just what I have to offer!

We don’t have a lot of days when the weather is so delightfully comfortable; so take advantage. I plan to indulge myself in the Sabbath. I’ll be pushing the pause button — ahhhhhhhh. relaxed. I wish you the same Joy and a full measure of Sabbath Peace.

Grape Hyacinth Peace, llvl

Short one this morning. Gotta get ready for the arts festival. where DID I put my sun screen?

The purple fields were astounding. A birthday treasure. And a sweet coda to the planting of Deb’s trees. I found more of wedding hearts that my friend Lorraine had made for me, and I had copied onto bright pink paper, took them to the park, thinking we could write on them and bury them with the roots… but the tree was planted. A friend said, we can put them on a stick. So we all wrote love, and made a love flag. It was gorgeous.

But it made me aware how sad I still am… so the purple fields were balm. Nature’s got it for us, if we’d only let it give it to us…

So thanks, my dears, for all the love you’ve given me through this… I had a very hectic and exhausting birthday… and one filled with wonder and love. I spent the entire day with my SweetPea, which we never get to do… and now, I wish you Purple Peace and Breakfast Peace and a great day!

Birthday Peace, llvl

What a wild ride today will be!

I’ve packed some ashes and Deb’s baby spoon for the tree planting. I’ve tucked the brass music stand into the car for this evening’s performance. Hankies to cry with, and scales to warm up. (and oh, yes, the music!!! eek. still a couple rough spots… but the high notes seem to be right there… life, the challenges and the blessings.

but all in all, there is love, love, love and I’m the luckiest woman. Lucky in friends. Lucky in family. Lucky in work. Lucky in community. and oh, lucky in Love.

I’m going to pack all the lovely messages I’ve received into my heart and use them for fuel for the year to come. What if this could become the Valley with No Hungry Children? What if? That’s what I want for my birthday! Wanna Play? Together… Peace.

Fierce Pansy Peace, llvl

If you look at a pansy you can see why they are called dragons in other cultures. And yet, our interpretation of them as gentle and happy is fairly easy to see as well. Ah, metaphors, they work in so many ways!

As I was writing (once I got past the pansy glow in this shot — Deb Slade caught something amazing, didn’t she?), I realized how much I liked the combined possibility of these two seemingly opposite characteristics, realized that I’d liked it for a long time when I remembered that I’d exhorted wedding couples to “love one another with a fierce and passionate tenderness.” hmmm, wonder why i stopped — does it perhaps get too carnal for comfort?

There they are, every spring, fierce and passionately tender pansies, bringing the world Peace with everything that’s in them. They look so fragile, but like yesterday’s daff, they’re pretty hardy… they persevere through the cold to fill us with delight and color. What a notion, sticking to the one thing you do and doing it well.

So now whenever i see a bunch of pansies, when I think “sweet” or “whimsical,” I’ll also think “fierce” and that will make me giggle with delight. An elite troop of Peace-warriors, right there in our gardens, sort of the terra cotta troops of the plant world. Yay! You go, little warrior pansies! Bring on the Peace.

Posy Peace, llvl

Today is brought to you by the sturdy, cheerful daffodil.

They’re not the first flower to tiptoe in when spring starts, but when they arrive spring is no longer hovering on the edges of our lives. The light has changed. The temps have usually warmed some. And there they are. great masses of them, thumbing their trumpets at the wind and the cool and damp. They’re not fragile.

I love that you plant them and they slowly take over. There are houses whose entire lawns become spring festivals when the daffodils bloom. You can find them in the woods where there used to be houses and the while time has reclaimed the foundation, the daffodils sunnily march on. They are creatures of abundance, those blooms.

My cousin wrote after seeing this morning’s poem to remember her spring coat. Both our mothers sewed, and we were so lucky… and my mother LOVED color. when it was spring around our parts, you could tell that the Evans girls were in the house.

So, get out there and shine. Be strong. Be beautiful. Be Peaceful. Be your best self. It’s spring and it’s time to blossom!

Work, Play, Peace, llvl

When you’re living “local,” Mother Nature sucks you in! Pay attention, she says, we’re in relationship.

So, no matter how busy you are, no matter how important your work, you have to make time for a cup of tea with your friend the Earth — the Great Mother. You have to care how she feels. You have to notice when she’s looking great… (and yep, you have to be the nurse when she’s ailing!).

And you have to balance the other important things in your life with this relationship. Your health is dependent upon hers. And her cycles ground you and give you so much pleasure.

It’s Earth Day… the 44th. Why not take the next year and explore your relationship with this fascinating, complex, breathing entity? And today? start a new habit of noticing and appreciating. She’s worthy of your effort and respect. Peace to all on Earth. Peace with the Earth. Peace. Earth. Peace. Earth. Peace.

Love, Chaos, Peace, llvl

Yesterday we celebrated Passover with a Seder at our church. It was wild, chaotic and all these visitors were streaming in the doors. I was the sole worship person that day, no assistant, so i had it all on my plate. No time to talk to strangers, other than hello, hello, come in… and occasionally holler oh! we need a new table. More Seder plates! Is there enough horseradish?

And the kids were doing Haggadah Role Play which has satisfactory amounts of dying even for grade school boys. The Angel of Death wanted to know if she could have her job every year. um… sure? There’s a spiritual path for you…

That’s what celebrations should be like, though… crowded and crazy filled with good food and laughter and lots of love. That’s Peace building If ever I encountered it. Traditions kept and embellished.

“Walk right in, sit right down, baby let your hair hang down.” Cause we’re all family here! Peace, my friends!

Forsythia Sabbath Peace, llvl

I love the promise of forsythia (can violets be far behind?). All that sunny, beautiful yellow. It simply hollers Spring.

Happy Easter (Western and Eastern Easter are on the same day this year!). Glad Pesach. Happy Spring (we’re actually a month after the Equinox, but the weather’s staying chilly, hence the late April forsythia in Central PA.). Much of the world will be celebrating sacred holidays today all of which have Hope in common. May that Hope spill out on the rest of the world.

The turning of the seasons brings back such memories and such opportunities to make more memories. Remember. Re-member. Piece Back together the times that came before.

So much to look forward to, so much to enjoy right here. I’m going to go sit beside this river and eat breakfast with my sweetie — it will be a fine start to a wonderful day!

What ever you celebrate may you be filled with Hope. And may you have a wonderful Peace-filled Sabbath, reveling in the Beauty and the Possibility. And what the heck. I’m up and on time on East Coast time!

Sacred Village

Building a World of Peace, Village by Sacred Village.

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