Starry, Starry Night

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxHnRfhDmrk

Happy Kindness Day!

Looking back at posts I had started, but never finished, this song had been bookmarked. It is rather sad, but beautiful to me. It speaks of starry, starry nights, how people didn't listen until it was too late. I am planning to focus on those stars with more to come on that next month. I hope you will continue to follow along with me as I look to the stars, as I speak my truth, and as I continue to travel with kindness and joy.

I noticed the moon shining through the clouds as they rushed by during last night, as I woke up to enjoy a couple hours where I couldn't sleep. There were no stars, but I could see that moon, the clouds, the rain, and the shadows in my yard. I could imagine the beauty of the sky and grounds as the sun rose to see another day.

My tea plant (camellia sinensus) is blooming, hope for new growth.

The leaves are puddling on the greenhouse roof. I think they are beautiful.

And if I look closely, I find new blooms still shining on a dark day.

As the sun goes down, the evening sky from my back door.

In the song it mentions a blood red rose. This is the closest to that in my garden each spring.

I pray people wake up and listen to each other, love each other, and show kindness in little and big ways. I need to believe it isn't too late to listen and embrace each other. Notice those starry, starry nights and wait for the dawning day light hours. Be awake, alert, and notice what you notice. Be Kind!

Sending love,

Marilyn

Words of Kindness and Joy

 "Wherever you are creating beauty around you, you are restoring your own soul." Unknown

 

Dear Friends,

I knew this year would be rough, but this election has pretty much drained me. It is hard for me to focus on the beauty, the kindness, or the joy in life some days. I am shattered.

But in the midst of all the sadness and angst the words that come to me this morning is that in the darkness we must sparkle and shine. How do we do that? Where do we go from here? The quote above sort of answers those questions for me. It might be in the little things that I have shared this year, the noticing of the small things. But also in the "creating beauty". How do we do that?

 

For me it might just be the picking up of an acorn on my walk and savoring the beauty. Isn't it amazing how the nut fits so snugly into the little cap? I often carry it home and admire it for awhile. It might be to pause and admire the flowers or beautiful fruit at the market. It is all about the nature around me. As far as creating,it is my small watercolors I love to paint for friends,just putting a few flowers in a vase to enjoy, or lighting a candle on a dark, stormy night.

Also it is noticing the "sparkle and shine". Last Friday I went to my favorite early Christmas event at the local antique mall. There was plenty of "sparkle and shine". It made my heart happy. I don't buy much anymore, but I just love snapping a few pictures and for awhile be surrounded by beauty.

So, friends, let's notice the "sparkle and shine" each and every day.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Autumn and Hope

 

 

Thoughts by Jacqueline Bouvier (Kennedy) in 1943

I love the Autumn,

And yet I cannot say

All the thoughts and things

That make one feel this way.

 

I love walking on the angry shore,

To watch the angry sea;

Where summer people were before,

But now there's only me.

 

I love wood fires at night

That have a ruddy glow

I stare at the flames

And think of long ago. 

I love the feeling down inside me

That says to run away

To come and be a gypsy

And laugh the gypsy way.

The tangy taste of apples,

The snowy mist at morn,

The wanderlust inside you

When you hear the huntsman's horn.

Nostalgia-that's the Autumn,

Dreaming through September

Just a million lovely things

I always will remember.

 

To me, this sounds a bit melancholy. "I always will remember." Through different seasons of my life I have said "pay attention" for this will be a memory some day. Each adventure I have taken, a memory now resides.

In these dark times, the memories, noticing small things of beauty, will get me by.

Yes, I am sad today. Sad for my country, sad to let those things of beauty go. But hope comes in the morning and I must still have hope and notice what I notice of beauty and delight. 

Sending love,

Marilyn

Words of Kindness and Joy

OK, I wrote this in August and realized I hadn't posted it. As tomorrow is election day I hope and pray a woman will soon be in charge.

Now you might say, "what does that have to do with Kindness and JOY?" I believe Kamala brings to the table just that "kindness and joy"! 

 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FciQeRGYFlw&ab_channel=Keb%27Mo%27

Put a Woman in charge! 

I hope you listen to the above link, it inspires me.

I believe, as women, our time is coming.

Women have the power to add tenderness and beauty around them. To take something ugly and make it something special. To heal our "booboo's". To cry with us, laugh with us. Yes, you might say a man can do these things too, but I believe a woman adds the gentleness so lacking in the world of men.

I am excited for the possibilities a woman adds to our world. Now normally I am not political here, but our time has come in the US to have a woman in charge. Please vote BLUE 

Sending you love, kindness and JOY in this time of struggle and upheaval.

Peace to you,

Marilyn

Trolls by Thomas Dambo

If you have been following along with me for this year you will know I have been intrigued by the trolls made by Thomas Dambo and crew from recycled material. I follow along with their adventures around the world on Instagram. So I knew I needed to go on an adventure or two to find the six in the Pacific Northwest. The first one was easy for it was in Portland, Oregon. I ventured there three times this past year and seeing it each time just made me smile.

This is the third time I visited with my "live-in gardener" and grandson. Isn't he cute?

 

 

 Pia the Peacemaker on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

My sister-in-law visited Pia with us and it also delighted her.

 Then there was the Bird King on Vashon Island, Washington found in January of this year.

So my adventure in September to visit my sister-in-law and then the tea festival in Seattle also included a search for the final three trolls in the Seattle area.

This one we found in among the trees in Issaquah, Washington.

It was about a half mile hike to find him.

I loved that part of the search included getting out in nature and enjoying a beautiful day.

And then again walking by the water for another half mile along the water front at Lincoln Park in Seattle, Washington. This walk included walking with a friend and a good little visit.

 

 

You can see, these trolls are not particularly small. Sitting or standing in with the trees they just delighted me.

 

And then finally the sixth one is found right in town. We almost drove right past it, but the GPS said it was here at the Norwegian Center in Seattle, Washington.

All six found. The whimsy and humor of the creator just made me smile.

It was a fun adventure.

It got us out in the world, discovering new surroundings.

It delighted our hearts. 

 

Have you gone on an adventure recently?

What were you searching for?

Did it delight your heart?

 

Sending love,

Marilyn

Spooky Daze

“Gather ye witches young and old for a cup of tea and a story to be told!"  Unknown

Because I am downsizing, I don't go to the antique mall to shop. I go for the smiles, I go to snap pictures, and I just go to surround myself with festive love. The Monticello mall here in Portland has the most wonderful seasonal events and I don't miss one of them. It's my own secret adventure. Don't tell anyone, it's my secret and I am sharing it with you.

I love the whimsy and silliness of Halloween.

Do you like to play a little bit?

I have a doll head very similar to the one tucked behind the skull. It scared my grandson so much, I had to hide it.

Do you think a woman US president could use this necklace?

Welcome to Autumn, dear friends!

 Sending love and spooky adventures!

Marilyn

Words of Kindness and Joy

 "Books are a way we leave a mark on the world, aren't they? They say we were here, we loved and we grieved and we laughed and we made mistakes and we existed. They can be burned halfway around the world, but the words cannot be unread, the stories cannot be untold." from The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes 

Books bring me JOY. How about you?

I recently finished The Librarian of Burned Books. It took me awhile to get into the story, but once it captured my attention it has resided in my heart. It was sad, but we all came out positive in the end. It gave me hope.

As you read further along in this post, I am sharing small moments of joy. The one above is a recent breakfast where I enjoyed some freshly made fig jam on a crumpet with my tea. I hadn't made jam for a few years and totally lost sight of the joy of savoring jam made by my own hands. So delicious.

The other joy was having a social media friend send me moon cakes and tea for no reason at all, but because she wanted to share the joy from her hands and heart.

Now a friend mentioned she was reading A Thousand Feasts by Nigel Slater. Since I have enjoyed his Christmas Chronicles each December, I decided to start reading his new book over my morning tea. His books are small essays wrapped around food.His descriptive words always delight me.

I loved what Nigel Slater said in his introduction to A Thousand Feasts. "I see no point in putting pen to paper to preserve anything negative, sad or painful. Heaven knows,there is enough of that. I have no wish to live in a rose-tinted bubble, but if I have learned one thing, it is not only to concentrate on the "positive stuff", but to cherish it. I will admit to seeking it out, to looking up instead of down, to being curious and to hold on, as tightly as I can, to "the good things", however small." He goes on to talk about noticing the "small moments of joy".

Another joy was sharing tea this past Saturday with a group of dear friends. I had connected with this dear lady above, Rui of Grass People Tree (tea business) early in the pandemic on Instagram. I attended several of her tea events on zoom and her heart just touched me. She is in Portland right now sharing tea with new and old friends, all the way from China.

It was so special to have her pour tea and share stories.

Seeing the smiles on my friends faces brought me amazing joy.

And then to also on a recent evening to sit with another dear friend and listen to these two ladies share stories. It just made me smile from ear to ear. If you don't know who these ladies are, they are Hillary Clinton and Tina Kotek (Oregon's governor).

 

In our crazy political world right now, it is important more than ever to notice the "small moments of joy".

Dear friends bring me JOY.

I encourage you to notice what you notice, maybe write down your joys, savor each one and let the joy reside in your heart.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Chihuly Museum

I have always been fascinated by Chihuly's blown glass. In Las Vegas I have stood and gazed at the decorated ceiling in the Bellagio Hotel with his glass art pieces. I have walked through museums where his glass has been on display. Each time I have attended the NW Tea Festival in Seattle I have wanted to visit the Chihuly Museum nearby, but hadn't taken the time. This recent trip to Seattle I said, "OK, I must go to the Chihuly Museum!". So off I went. Enjoy the views of gorgeous glass pieces. It is truly amazing!

It is right next to the Space Needle in the Seattle Center.

This glass sphere reminded me of a cinnamon roll.

It felt like these beautiful glass structures were growing from the ground.

The colors are just magnificent in the garden.

Then inside glass was hanging above our head's and surrounding us. It was awesome.

It felt like I was floating through the sea.

A secret room surrounded me in color.

What a imagination to come up with these creations.

Even the small pieces delighted the eyes.

 Have you ever seen Chihuly glass in person? It is truly stunning. I am so glad I finally paused long enough to enjoy.

 

Sending love,

Marilyn