Monday, March 30, 2015

Mindful Monday


What's my day like now?
My day isn't figured out.

Paul Miller
from
Studs Terkel's
Coming of Age

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

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).

Monday, March 23, 2015

Mindful Monday


Hallelujah,
Thank the Lord,
For another chance.

Another Chance
Wild Ponies
(Doug and Telisha Williams)
from
Things That Used to Shine

Monday, March 16, 2015

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

Monday, March 9, 2015

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

Saturday, March 7, 2015

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.


Monday, March 2, 2015

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