Friday Muse From April 2008

Last night I was going through some of my entries that were made a little over 2 years ago. My journal was started in April of 2008.

This a time that I first started writing online as "One Woman's Journey".... could not use this as my title as I was told it was taken. That name has been in my heart for 45 years. So I went with "My Journey To Mindfulness" .

I read this poem and once again all of my children and grandchildren came to mind - want to share it once again - so true...

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and he bends you with his might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so he loves also the bow that is stable.

Kahlil Gibran

Special Sign

A friend came to visit this morning. We shared and covered many subjects. We had fruit tea and deserts that I had on hand.

She brought me something special - maps on Thailand, Asia and Malaysia. These will help me follow my son on his activities in these areas that are so very unfamiliar to his mom.

Also sharing her book by Sylvia Boorstein "Pay Attention, For Goodness Sake."

This time made me so aware that there is just no one else near where I live that is interested in many of the things that I am. I am very thankful for this special time and her friendship is like an unexpected gift to me.

As she was leaving and looking at my garden - a butterfly landed on her shoulder. I did not have my camera and it would have been great to capture this image.

I wonder if this had a special meaning? I choose to believe that it was a good luck omen.


It is not necessary that you leave the house. Remain at your table and listen. Do not even listen, only wait. Do not even wait, be wholly still and alone. The world will present itself to you for its unmasking, it can do no other, in ecstasy it will writher at your feet.

Franz Kafka

For Jessi - Far Over The Ocean

Jessi, you asked me to post a picture of my Sour Cream Pound Cake and Zucchini Bread.

I just finished baking this morning and they are still cooling.

The cake is similar to Nan's - but I bake it in a stem pan and put a glaze on it. Like the way it looks on the cake stand. A touch of elegance here in the woods :)

The Zuchinni Bread, I make in 3 small pans instead of 2 larger loaf pans.

Have a good night and day tomorrow.

Correction And "Got You Finally"

Beth did pretty good with her race. She told me with a smile it was a 16 1/2 mile bike race and not 6 1/2 as I shared.

Hey I am pleased at the moment I can even type.

Sitting in my rocking chair and watching the humming birds zoom around - finally was able to get a shot that was not blurry.

I am out of baked goods and tomorrow I am making a sour cream pound cake and zucchini bread.

Where ever you are on this planet have a good evening.

Children, grandchildren, and special friends - thank you for contacting me about One Woman losing her balance, rolling down a small hill and almost knocking herself out :-)

The Race Is On

My middle daughter Beth Ann is part of a Triathlon group. Today they have their last local race of the season. She has been a part of this group for several years and mom is proud of her for taking on the challenge this represents.

300 yards in the pool

6 1/2 mile on bike

3 mile run

Beth has a nursing degree and now is part of the administration at a hospital in Nashville.

So - my special daughter this early morning your mom sends you a bouquet of special good luck wishes.

Thankful Continued

Not to good of a night. I ache all over. I am fine but realize how close I came to not being so fine. Thoughts of how easily an accident can happen - how I love this home and all that I am doing. Thoughts of how old chronologically I am when in reality I think of myself much younger and basically am doing most of what I did 20 years ago. So many thoughts - but then it comes down to mindfulness and being slower.
Seems I have always done things quickly. I need to slow down. I know what to do and now I need to do it.

Finally dawned on me what happened. How stupid of me. I was working on what you would call a small hill - going the wrong way - facing down. I should have been coming up the hill with my planting. So when I tumbled over and tried to catch myself with the hands - they were facing down and I fell on my face.

Right cheekbone and by eye is very swollen and bright red. Guess in the next few days I will have a black eye.

I always keep my cell phone in my pocket but really for a minute or so was stunned and could not think. I have someone who calls daily and usually hear from one of my children each day.


It is so much easier for me to write this online for my children and grandchildren to read then to call and answer phone calls. So - a lot in my daily life is going out over the world.

Thankful

I had a bad fall about 2 hours ago. I am alright. Have a black eye and cheekbone is real swollen and black and blue.

I was re potting a plant by my terrace and it is on a slight slope. I was bending over and I went totally forward and fell on my face. Stunned me for a few minutes and I was quite shaken.

I have some vertigo and must have lost my balance.

The tears finally stopped. This frightened me. I love my home in the woods and this has made me more aware that I need to be careful. Cell phone always in pocket and Miss Callie sat beside me looking at me. If her eyes could have spoke - she was wondering what happened to her mistress.

I am so thankful I did not break anything. My shoulder, neck, arm, wrist and hand are sore. I am putting ice on my face and getting ready to eat some cabbage soup that has been simmering. After eating I will take a couple of Motrin.

It has left me so aware how easily an accident can happen and how easily someone can break a bone.