Mindful Monday

What's my day like now?

My day isn't figured out.

Paul Miller

from

Studs Terkel's

Coming of Age

Walking Back Forward

A great friend and I have been talking a bit lately about taking steps forward, taking steps backward, and some of the subtle differences between the two.  The case in point, of course is our decision to return to the ‘working world’ for a bit to get a few projects completed. 

It feels for all the world like stepping backward, out of the realms of sustainable living and into the clutches of the dreaded ‘MAN’ (whoever he is).

Mindful Monday

Hallelujah,

Thank the Lord,

For another chance.

Another Chance

Wild Ponies

(Doug and Telisha Williams)

from

Things That Used to Shine

Mindful Monday

To hold until full is not as good as stopping.

An oversharpened sword cannot last long.

A room filled with gold and jewels cannot be protected.

Boasting of wealth and virtue brings your demise.

After finishing the work, withdraw.

This is the Way of Heaven.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

9

Mindful Monday

The highest goodness is like water.

Water easily benefits all things without struggle.

Yet it abides in places that men hate.

Therefore it is like the Tao.

For dwelling, the Earth is good.

For the mind, depth is good.

The goodness of giving is in the timing.

The goodness of speech is in honesty.

In government, self-mastery is good.

In handling affairs, ability is good.

If you do not wrangle, you will not be blamed.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

8

Thaw

It's about 50 Degrees out there today, and tonight my sweetheart and I will move back to our own little cabin (we've been staying up in the main house through the coldest nights), hopefully for the duration.  I started preparing our first seed flats this afternoon, about a month later than I typically would, and it felt great to have my hands in soil again.  I look forward to the first little sprouts with such eagerness.

I'd post pictures of the thaw, but honestly (and I think y'all know this for yourselves) it looks kind of desolate out there.  So instead, I'll share the last lovely walk in this past week's snow.

And Again

Yesterday Afternoon

Mindful Monday

The valley spirit never dies.

It is called "the mysterious female."

The opening of the mysterious female

Is called "the root of Heaven and Earth."

Continuous, seeming to remain.

Use it without exertion.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

6