Focus on the Stars

 

Amy SchmidtAbundance, in memory of Mary Oliver

It’s impossible to be lonely

when you’re zesting an orange.

Scrape the soft rind once

and the whole room

fills with fruit.

Look around: you have

more than enough.

Always have.

You just didn’t notice

until now.

The words above are so true. I just had to share.

It's a good reminder to focus on what we have right in front of us.

This past week, for me, it was a flower at teatime, time with my grandson and his best friend, a visit to a nature preserve where I saw Harry Heron of the West, and a plum cake that came from my oven with plums I still had in the freezer from my plum tree last year.

The fragrance of the everyday and noticing is a delight and gives me hope for moving forward. It's those little things that light up the day and make me smile. Here I am still noticing what I notice, focusing on the stars.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Focus on the Stars

 Someone on social media recently said we must accept discomfort without losing hope.

Sometimes I find as I have gotten older it gets harder to just get out of my comfy chair and be in the world. Moving and walking, especially on unknown paths, can put up roadblocks to life. And yet, we must keep moving, keep trusting the unknowns around us, and hold on to hope. 

Where will the path take us? Who will we encounter? What magic can we find?

Saturday I told my "live-in gardener" about an open garden we hadn't visited in many years.It is managed by the Master Gardener's in the county. My "live-in gardener" wasn't sure he wanted to go because the weather was going to be hot. But we went and he was glad he had gone.

It was a beautiful time of connections with people and plants.

We even had opportunity to share information. This garden plot right now is probably the least pretty, but someday those little plants will grow into a lovely little tea garden. As I stood there I was able to share my knowledge with the gardener and another passer-by. For you see, in my home garden I had 8 tea plants and could produce my own tea.

And yesterday I met with a group of tea lovers and shared the tea I had made last year from my garden.

 

So hold on to hope and keep putting yourself out there, even when the trail is unknown and a bit rocky.

 Sending love and hope in a dark and rocky world.

Marilyn 

Focus on the Stars

 A collector of dreams: what does that mean to me - spending memorable moments with someone dear to me, seeking out beauty.

In seeking out beauty I came across this hidden courtyard on my July adventure. Isn't it pretty? I was searching for that shop, which was closed; but instead just enjoyed the courtyard. I stood for some moments of quiet and took in my surroundings and the sound of trickling water in the fountain.

 And then the flowers in my own little yard make me smile each day.

 

A few days ago I shared summer flowers. I have thought of how important "adventure" is to me. When I don't have an adventure planned, even if it is to somewhere fun, I am sad. The adventure might actually be hopping in the car to visit a favorite market and find a treat or it might be a cup of tea with a friend. But adventures are little glimmers of light for me. 

 

Spending moments with someone dear or seeking out a beautiful flower, I delight in each moment. They create a memory, the dreams, that decorate my day and my heart sings with joy. 

Sending love,

Marilyn 

Summer Flowers

 "The earth laughs in flowers" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

It was a simple day. A day to walk among the flowers. There were not many people around. It was peaceful and quiet. And yet, it was wildly filled with summer flowers.

There were fields of sunflowers, plus cosmos and zinnias. Then there were other flowers, too many to name. 

"Every flower must grow through dirt" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Resilience and growth!!! 

They brought out laughter and smiles.

"Love is the flower you've got to let grow," by John Lennon

Simple pleasures, flowers. 

Places to sit and savor the moments. 

"Let us live like flowers, wild and beautiful and drenched in sun,"  by Ellen Everett.

 

And a bouquet came home.

  

Do you enjoy summer flowers?

Do they delight your heart?

 

Sending love,

Marilyn