sacred day two hundred ninety-two.

afternoon walk.  flowers open.

10.16.2011

walking with my boy each afternoon after school is a sacred task.  we love these steps together. 

sacred day two hundred eighty-four.

making apple juice.

10.11.2011

making apple juice at the market.  he loved the fun of seeing the apples crushed and juice pouring into the bucket.  we love our tuesday evenings at the byrd house market and are so thankful for the bounty our farming friends produce daily.

sacred day two hundred eighty.

a gorgeous bloom.

10.7.2011
love this bloom.  spotted on a morning walk with my boy to school.  gorgeous hibiscus.

sacred day two hundred seventy-seven

natural yarn.

10.4.2011

there is something so wonderful about our tuesday afternoon/early evening trips to the farmer's market.  i love the routine and rhythm of the market. i love knowing the vendors and participating in their life story by returning again and again to their booths.  i keep seeing this yarn stacked in a wooden crate.  i want some.  i want it to fill one of my beautiful baskets in the studio waiting for the perfect use.  i want to hold it. i want to look at it in it's beauty.  i'm caught. the color, texture, and love that is seen here catches me just so.  

sacred day two hundred seventy-three

a market meal.

9.30.2011

setting aside time to create in the kitchen, i gather the work of their hands!  all of this comes from the love and sweat of the various farmer's market farms.  i am thankful for each of their hands.  i know them each by name and i give thanks.  i honor their work by taking time to be inspired by the ingredients, to create a shared meal with love, and to savor each bite mindfully.  

sacred day two hundred seventy-one

tree climber.

9.28.2011

i love that he runs toward trees.  he stands under them, looking up.  he notices the shapes of the leaves and asks their name.  he grabs hold of their limbs outstretched to the sun, lifting his feet from the ground and allowing the tree to hold his weight.  sometimes he steps into their limbs and finds himself in another world.  he's happy.  he's at home.  

sacred day two hundred sixty-nine

tree of life. 

9.26.2011

making the second tree of life canvas for a dear family, this tree of life celebrates a family of four.  love grows here.  truth telling.  truth sharing.  a canvas to hang in the sacred space of a bright life's room.  may all be blessed. 

sacred two hundred sixty-seven

bright light.

9.25.2011

you should never look directly into the sun.  i love the way the sun came into blurred view as i snapped a photo of what you shouldn't look into.  its good light fueled my spirits as i moved from place to place.  stepping into the light, feeling the light on my skin, looking near.  aah...

sacred day two hundred sixty-six

gardenia.

9.24.2011

gardenias in bloom represent goodness, love, and safety.  i love that smell as i walk into the back yard.  i love that this gardenia bush blooms multiple times throughout the year and looks the best ever right now.  i love the gardenia's connection to the deep south, sweet tea, and outdoor play.  sacred space. sacred smells.  sacred memories.

sacred day two hundred sixty-four

mom, come and see! 

9.22.2011

my son's excitement over nature is overwhelming at times.  running into the house he was so excited to find a quiet cricket along our front walk.  perhaps this cricket was approaching the end of life. i'm not sure.  he delighted in its company. i delighted in witnessing his joy.

sacred day two hundred sixty

fishing.

9.17.2011

spending an evening fishing with friends is a good thing.  we love this spot that's a gift for us a couple times a year.  a church member offers his space for fishing & camping.  we love, love, love to go and share this good time worshipping the spaces of the outdoors!  creation is sacred.  settling into our breathing, stopping to watch the fire dance, and listening to all that is alive in the world that surrounds us: such goodness! 

sacred day two hundred fifty-nine

a proud boy.
9.16.2011

decked in his purple gear we get ready to roll outside after his second week of kindergarden.  he's dressed well, with high spirits.  he is ready to play.  he knows he's a cool kid with his headband and rockin' socks.  i love, love, love my sweet boy. he is a gift.  he is beautiful. he is sacred.

sacred day two hundred fifty-eight

new layers. 

9.15.2011

there is something special about getting a haircut.  yes, it's for the moment of rest and relaxation that it brings.  it's special for the pure joy of someone playing with your hair.  it's also a space to look at yourself, really look in the mirror and see.  to look into your reflexion and take a good breath and know that you are you.  wholly, holy, sacred you.

sacred day two hundred fifty-three

morning light.

9.10.2011

the sun brings that good vitamin D and that jolt of energy.  the sun's light streams into my kitchen window and flavors our morning meal.  our bodies are restored with these days of good light after rain, wind, and cloudy darkness.  we're revived and rested.  we love the light! 

sacred day two hundred fifty-two

stepping.
9.9.2011

my boy has paint on his right shoe.  his socks usually don't match.  he's a delightful boy to be around.  he gets excited. he can get frustrated & demand attention.  he's cute when he's angry.  i love that he knows what he wants, and tries to articulate with a very long and drawn out story as to what that is.  he's imaginative and creative.  of course, i'm his mother. i'm biased.  yet in this moment i am watching him take slow steps.  he's bird watching.  it's amazing how still he can be when he listens to and watches birds. i love this boy & his sacred steps.

sacred day two hundred fifty-one

garden observation.

9.8.2011

perched on the rosemary was this moth.  it's such an interesting creature with amazing textures & colors. i love exploring the garden to see what's new, what's changed, and what's creeping and crawling within it.  what a glorious find! 

sacred day two hundred forty-four

beginnings.

9.1.2011

walking into my sweet boy's new school, there was so much energy and life.  these are sacred moments for parents and children alike.  my love and i grabbed hands after dropping our boy at his class with his new teacher.  as with our life journey together, we hold hands walking into the orientation.  we are in this together.  for that, i am abundantly thankful.

sacred day two hundred forty-three

praying mants.

8.31.2011

holy smokes! this praying mantis came crawling from beneath the leaves of my hosta as i was weeding a few vines.  it was so long and came unexpectedly.  once atop the leaf, it watched me so closely.  we were only a couple of feet apart.  we stood and looked at each other for a few moments, then i had to capture the moment.  seeing. witnessing. standing in awe.

sacred day two hundred thirty-nine

well preserved.

8.27.2011

the winds blew & the rain streaked the windows.  the world outside was a movin' while the world in my kitchen was warm and busy.  the sacred space of my small kitchen fills me with peace, mindful practice, and appreciation for the bounty from the earth.  canning the figs picked the day before into whole figs & preserves brought delight to my morning.  canning these figs restored my spirit and brought me joy. 

sacred day two hundred thirty-six

a bit of coral reef. 

8.24.2011

spending the day with my boys at the national zoo and in D.C. was a delight.  seeing the bits of coral reef was rather amazing.  i am so inspired by the colors & textures. so inspired by the wonders of this world.  i have no experience with the underwater wonders aside from seeing them in this way.  such a gift.