My word for 2017 is grace. May it shine upon me and may I remember to grant it to others. We can all use a little grace in this coming yesr.

the narrative as shaman
My word for 2017 is grace. May it shine upon me and may I remember to grant it to others. We can all use a little grace in this coming yesr.
The December Reflections group was an amazing experience and a great gaggle of people. I am so grateful to everyone for sharing parts of their life, accepting the invitation of others to come in and sit for a spell, and to Susannah Conway for putting together this activity and challenge. And thank you for taking the time to read my words and view my photographs.
I wish for sanctuary for us all. A place to go when we need to recharge, renew. A place where we are loved and embraced, in the company of others like us. A place to unbraid, bathe our nakedness, and let go.
Only the cadence of the ocean and my journal. A poem for the day.
What makes me smile two days after Christmas? A new hat that fits over my frizzy hair and keeps me warm while on the beach collecting shells, sea glass, and making photos. ❤
Feed the soul. For some, restfulness and quietude come easy. For others, like me, we have to work at it, purposefully. I try to keep a big-ass Zulu basket of crafts, mittens, books, and dried snacks in my car for those moments I need to make a quick getaway. Find me on the beach, basket full of warm pretty things.
Fresh rosemary plucked from my daughter’s hand as she was fussing over a pan of balsamic, garlic, and honey chicken. She volunteered to cook Christmas dinner as her gift to me. She was worried she couldn’t afford to buy gifts. Her academic course load was heavy this semester, I suggested she drop her campus job and focus on classes. She didn’t need to worry. I told her I’d only accept her gift of a meal if she was doing it… Keep Reading
Mulling spice from the organic cooperative market. One of our new traditions is making hot mulled apple cider for the holidays — Thanksgiving and Christmas. I pick her up from school, we grab two gallons of fresh apple cider from our favorite orchard, stop by the market for bulk spices, and head home to start the holiday festivities. It’s only been two years since we started this tradition, but I can’t imagine a time when we didn’t do it, as… Keep Reading
I prefer substance and story to shine, elegant cool tones to warm and bright (I rarely like gold). But this time of year I want the sparkle, layer upon layer of things that catch and bend light. Let me walk into any room of my house and find things that make my eyes dance and chase their shimmer.
2016 is the year it all came crashing down: our belief in the systems that govern us, and the people who govern the facade of those systems. But like the tree in this photo, sometimes there’s a surprising beauty in fallen things.