I'm not sure if you are following my #handmademaker360 challenge over on Instagram (and that's *absolutely* okay if you aren't!) but the short story about it is that I haven't been keeping up on a daily basis, as I was hoping. And it's only the second month! Ohhh nooo, right? Well, I don't mind. I just wanted you to know this little bit of information. I don't mind.

I am old enough to know that even if I don't appear to be going in a single-minded straight and linear direction I am still going forward and that is what is most important. I am still working on, and thinking about, my Blooming Enamels almost all the time. It's just that there are other things to see and do too! So I say that I am still going forward in what I like to call - a curvilinear direction. It's a forward direction that allows for lots of scenic views along the way. :)

I have done a lot of independent traveling over the years and what I like most about it is the freedom to follow my plan but to also break it when needed so that I can see things that I never knew existed. How can I plan to see things that before stumbling upon them I never knew existed?! Some people call it distractions but I prefer the term - serendipity. Things I didn't plan for but am very lucky to have found.

So with my #handmademaker360 challenge I feel like my Cooper in the photo above. I'm facing forward, moving forward, but always aware of what else is around me and giving it a glance. I might take time to go off my path to see what it is that's around me, or I might not, but whatever I do, I am still moving forward and following along my path onto my bigger plan.

Non-GMO Veggies!

This is the second summer with my deck garden boxes. I planted my non-GMO seeds and although a lot of the "crop" didn't really happen -- my carrots did! Aren't they gorgeous?! They are sweet and crispy and taste so fresh. I also had some lettuce and tomatoes (of course) and some zucchini. Unfortunately my sugar snap peas were eaten by the squirrels (which makes me think about making some glass covers to go over the boxes for animal protection as well as added sun benefits -- add that to the To Do list!) Hope your summer was plentiful and abundant... 

Home Grown!

And since the carrots were so persistent I made some earrings in their honor:

Soul-Swaying

I'm learning that part of the trick of growing into my authentic self is to go with the flow. To allow life to unfold for me and to be open to the detours it presents for me -- for those are the opportunities of growth, and eventually (hopefully), wisdom. I am not to be daunted or discouraged but patient, trusting and steadfast....

Winter Stumblings

I am smack in the middle of winter here in northeast Ohio with no clear signs of the season letting up (in spite of what the little groundhog had to say) and I am stumbling between hibernation and exploration. Although I am staying as much inside as I am able I am also ready to get out again with my camera and investigate my world!

So yesterday I ventured out a bit and saw what beauty the ice can bring. This old and dead flower bush that is left over from a late summer blooming has become nearly immortalized as it is frozen in the drippings of a melting icicle higher up. It must be very weighted down by the heft of the icicle but it is mustering through and waiting for the thaw.

 
That is how I feel. Winter is always heavy for me but on some days I see the bright sun and know that it is coming back again soon and strong. Like this old bloom knows that even as I am taking the picture of its frozen existence the icicle encompassing it is slowly melting away...

Waiting for Spring

Hiding Out

This little acorn was tucked so far under the wilting grass, weeds and retiring meadow flowers that I almost missed her. What a shame that would have been!

The little nut looks to me like she is biding her time until she can become snow-covered and so nestle herself in the ground to start hibernating and gestating for the coming spring when she will emerge as a baby tree.

She looks to me as if she is trying to disappear -- not so that she isn't seen, but so that no squirrels capture her before she reaches her truest moment. She knows that her special destiny in time is not yet here and she knows that, "laying low" is a strategy she can use to help her survive until then.

She is retreating from the spotlight now so that she can gather her forces and prepare for her most authentic entrance of all...

Coming Out From Under

I've been having a headache/migraine for the past 5 days. It is not fun. When I am in the throws of the headache it feel like I am this tree, enveloped in the fog of pain (to put it mildly).

But I am starting to come out now and that clearing away of the mist is as refreshing (and welcome) as this tree is beautiful as it emerges from its own haze...

Enjoying the Journey

I *adore* lilacs -- especially the purple ones.

Ever since I was a little girl purple was my favorite color and to see it so unabashedly expressed in nature, by the lilac bush, is exciting for me.

These purple lilac budlings will be bursting forth any day now and although I am waiting patiently for them to take their time in emerging, I am very much looking forward to when they do.

But even before the flowers do emerge I find the budlings to be just as intriguing as the sweet and beautiful flowers they will become. I enjoy looking closely at all the intricate patterns of the buds as they crowd next to each other making their space, and place, in the future bunch. Although I am eager for the bloomed flowers, I slow myself down to enjoy observing the budlings just as much.

It's another reminder for me to value the journey as much as the destination.

The Patience of Growth

So how does this sprig of life do it? How does she maintain her composure while being nearly engulfed by blanketing snow? How does she maintain her tender layer of fuzz all over her needles while the snow around her attempts to overtake her?

This sprig is no more than three inches tall, yet she persists in making her way through the journey of the seasons. She doesn't seem to be concerned with how much or how fast she grows, just that she is still here and still strong as winter encroaches. She knows the cold season won't last forever and soon the warm sun will encourage her growth again...

In waiting patiently for spring to arrive, and not fully succumbing to the tendency of winter slumber, this elegant sprig of life is still growing -- in that she is learning patience.

Lessons from a Grasshopper

You've gotta start somewhere... Just do it... One step at a time...

I watched this grasshopper for several minutes as she negotiated the challenge of the vertical obstacle she wanted to overcome.

Of course she could have jumped using all the power of her back legs. She's very good at jumping. But in this situation jumping would have led to a nice headache.

So instead, the grasshopper slowly and carefully stepped off of the piece of wood while reaching with her front legs.

She then used her back legs, the jumping legs, for support only. The grasshopper steadied herself for a few moments, with her jumping legs stilled, until she found her bearings and felt comfortable.

After some time the grasshopper felt strong enough to release the back leg of support and grasp the wall fully with all four of her legs.

She then scrambled up the wall and jumped over it to be rewarded with the open patch of grass on the other side.

Drama in the Sky

I've been meaning to get this picture uploaded since I took it a couple weeks ago. Oh, the drama of it all! Clashing cold fronts and warm fronts, interplay of dark and light, producing winds and rains and sometimes lightning and thunder.

But behind it all is the steady blue sky and shining sun waiting patiently for the lower altitude drama to tire itself out...

Sweet and Delicate

There was a bumper crop of Lilies of the Valley this year. I'm not sure what the weather and climate did just right but the conditions must have been perfect to produce the plentiful beautiful flowers I had.

I've been tempted to pull out this row of Lilies of the Valley since for the past five years they weren't producing much of any susbtantial blooms.

And then this year I was completely surprised by an abundance of gorgeous and healthy flowers.

It's another lesson about patience and even faith. I don't seek out those learning opportunities very often so when they come to me unsolicited (and I am a aware enough to pick up on the message being sent to me!) it certainly must be important.

I'm glad I didn't pull out the Lilies of the Valley.

Spring Snow

[Original Posting Date: Thusday, March 20, 2008]

Well, so much for the impending spring season and my recent thoughts of fresh, locally-grown fruits and veggies! Here in the northern midwest we were hit last evening with another burst of quite determined snow. I suppose it's one of winter's last stands.
It really is beautiful though.

The sun is rising this morning and shining its radiant energy on the fresh whiteness and I find myself hoping the temperatures will stay low amidst the gorgeous blue skies so that the beautiful blanket of snow will remain for just a litle while longer....