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

Pathways

 

“Pathways” by Rainer Maria Rilke

Understand, I’ll slip quietly
away from the noisy crowd
when I see the pale
stars rising, blooming, over the oaks.

I’ll pursue solitary pathways
through the pale twilit meadows,
with only this one dream:

You come too.

Join me as we wander roads less traveled, into the unknown. What will we find just beyond the bend in the road? What beauty lies there? Hold my hand and I will walk with you.

Sometimes the path is rocky, curved or straight, and sometimes it takes us through the dark night until we reach the light.

Wherever we travel, wherever we walk, let's walk together. Let's share the darkness and the light.

Happy sharing and walking with dear ones through life's ups and downs. Sometimes the road is less travels and sometimes it is a bit crowded. Keep walking and stop to take in the view. The view can be more beautiful as you notice what you notice.

Sending love,

Marilyn 

Focus on the Stars

 

“If you can’t run away to a cabin in the woods right now, start small. Make a cup of tea and find a sunset to watch. Turn off your phone and read a book in the bath. Go for a drive and blast some Stevie Nicks. Fight for moments of peace in the midst of the crazy. You can do that.”

— Brooke Hampton

This says to me to "focus on the stars". See the little glimmers. Even this morning I noticed the bubbles in my teacup when I poured a cup of tea. The bubbles made me smile. I noticed a fairy ring of mushrooms right outside my door. And again I imagined fairies dancing there as I slept and I smiled. 

I walked in a garden and again I smiled.

Sending peace and love to you this morning.

Smile, as you notice the little glimmers of hope and light.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Focus on the Light

 

“Darkness will always give you an opportunity to create your own light.” Anonymous

 

If you look at the above picture closely you will find wisteria blossoms hanging in a tree. Today, having lunch with a dear friend, we noticed the purple blooms right there beside my car. It's those little "rays of sunshine" that brighten a dark day.

Or you find a glimmer of light sitting along the dark night, just sitting there waiting for you to notice.

 

 

It could just be a single bloom coming up through the dried leaves of a winter garden. Noticing creates little lights of hope, they light the way and brighten the day or the dark night.

As usual you know my wish for you is to always notice what you notice and let it lighten your day.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Focus on the Stars

 

Let's talk over a cup of tea. Grab your cup and sit awhile.

Just to let you know, I haven't forgotten you. With moving, then having my computer hacked and scrubbed, I haven't been able to download pictures from my phone. Life has moved along, but I couldn't find my little camera to once again take pictures. Excuses, I know; but I missed you. Today I just wanted to share some thoughts I have had lately as I continue the journey of reading, thinking and living. Yes, I finally found my camera.

 In meditation yesterday morning I read "what brings you joy". I thought of my mother's giggles and laughter. I thought of my sister's pierced lips when something didn't please her. I wondered if she felt joy. In the book by Nigel Slater, A Thousand Feasts, Small moments of joy...a memoir of sorts, he mentioned the joy of dipping a spoon into a jam jar of something yummy and tasting. "Little pots of treasure in which to go digging with your teaspoons." What joy he felt at that small gesture. I thought how my mother's family called her "the stupid one" because she didn't behave the way they wanted her to behave. I thought of the times my mother would giggle and laugh with her close friends and take adventures with them. At time she was torn between the sour notes of her family and her pure joy of the simple things of life.

Do you ever pause to think about what brings you joy. A dear friend often says "notice what you notice" and if you have followed along with me for awhile, I have picked up on that phrase and love, especially when I am here, noticing what I notice. What joy to notice those small things that surround us on any given day, dipping in our spoon and savoring for a few moments.

 

Now all the picture in this post were taken at the Lan Su Chinese Gardens yesterday as I snapped pictures with my little found camera. They are focusing on tea right now and had an exhibit on teaware from around the world. The pieces in this picture are from my collection. What a joy to be asked to share a few things and tell their story. The yellow chinzware was made for Victoria Magazine in the 1990's. They were made in England and represented teaware from England. The cup and saucer is probably from the mid 1800's and was made in France. The unique thing about this cup and saucer is that the saucer doesn't have the indent for the cup. Early in the style of cups and saucers, the saucer was made to sip from and there was no indent. I found this cup and saucer several years ago at a little antique booth at the Chelsea Flower Show in London. I was thrilled to bring home this special souvenir of my travels in England.

 

Of all the plants at the Chinese Gardens, this is my favorite. It is a very unique camellia. I have never seen this variety anywhere else. It is clusters of white single petal flowers blushed with what looks like a touch of the most beautiful color of red lipstick. At least that is what I think it is. My phone said it was a camellia, but I remember in the past reading that it was similar to a tea/camellia plant. It speaks to me of springtime and just brings a smile to my face. Of course, since it is related to the tea plant I would love it.

I have more pictures I snapped yesterday with my little camera, but they will come another time to brighten your day. I hope your day has glimmers of JOY, but above all else I hope you notice those glimmers.

Sending love,

Marilyn
 

Focus on the Stars

 

"The best way to make a difference is to get up and do something. Don't wait for the next election. Go out and make a difference right now. Because through your action, you will fill others with hope. And you might just fill yourself with hope." Barack Obama 

You can switch out the word "election" to what ever is making you wait. Maybe you are waiting for a check to come, a baby to be born, or a break in hard luck to come. There is a time to rest and a time for action. When the time for action comes, move forward with hope and a light in your heart.

I am reminded of the song, Turn, Turn, Turn:

To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn

And a time to every purpose under Heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under Heaven

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together

To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under Heaven

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing

To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under Heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rain, a time of sow
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Peter Seeger

 

 

For me I find that when I pay attention to my time to rest and my time to act there is a lightness in my heart. I would encourage you just to pay attention to those times, embrace them, and send out love to others in small ways.

 

 Sending love,

Marilyn

 

Focus on the Stars

 A dear friend shared this prayer with me recently and I thought it would be worth sharing with you. It fits so well with what I try to share each week, to make sure we notice those small things, the everyday things. As I settle into my new home I am once again beginning to notice those little things. I find it is time to pull out the calendar and set dates with friends for a cup of tea or an adventure. It's time to go for walks and "notice what I notice".

I am noticing the small lights and glimmers when out in the evening light. Light is capturing my hearts as I focus on HOPE. But I am also noticing the earth is struggling to come alive once more and sing to our hearts.

 

 Dear God,

All I can think to say this morning, is please guide my attention to that which is worthy of it.

When I am overwhelmed by everything that has to get fixed in this broken down world, show me what is MINE to do then please give me the strength to do it and the humility to rest afterwards.

Open my eyes to behold that which is hopeful and lovely and to know that the terrifying and malicious will always be there and that looking away for a moment is not callus, it’s calculating.

Guide my attention to that which is worthy of it: making art, cooking food, loving people, noticing birds, petting dogs, contacting friends, and doing the work that is mine to do.

And when I am scrolling through meaningless videos, once again wasting more precious moments on this Earth than I realize, snap me out of it, Lord and help me just go for a walk or something.

In your holy name,

Amen.

Nadia Bolz-Weber 

 Sending love and peace in this crazy world,

Marilyn

 

Words of Kindness and Joy

 "Practice being awake." 

Bethany Lee recently spoke at my church and these very simple words got me to pay attention. Bethany has written several books of poetry and plays the harp most beautifully. She is a thoughtful young woman.

Thinking about being awake, what does that mean? Again I think it means to pay attention, "notice what you notice". I can't say it enough. When we are awake we see both the beauty and the sorrows of life. We feel. In feeling it can be painful, but if we pay attention it can also be a growing experience. Growing is good, Being awake is good.

Then laugh and love a lot!

Be joyful!

Sing!

I had lunch a couple days ago with my cousin and his wife. He is a bird person. So after lunch he drove us to one of his favorite places to sit and watch the birds. We weren't disappointed. There was an abundance of birds. He knows I like to notice nature; so he encouraged me to snap a few pictures. The middle picture particularly made me happy, as it also caught the reflections on the water. Isn't it fun when a simple snap of the phone camera makes you smile and feel joy?

 What is making your heart sing today?

Sending love,

Marilyn

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

 "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