Sometimes I order a mocha latte just so I can see the art they are capable of making.
And they seem to do it effortlessly. This is Meg’s latte art.
Latte Art
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“We” rather than “I”
“In a gift economy, wealth is understood as having enough to share, and the practice for dealing with abundance is to give it away. In fact, status is determined not by how much one accumulates, but by how much one gives away. The currency in a gift economy is relationship, which is expressed as gratitude, as interdependence and the ongoing cycles of reciprocity. A gift economy nurtures the community bonds that enhance mutual well-being; the economic unit is “we” rather than “I” as all flourishing is mutual.”
Robin Wall Kimmerer, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
Backlit Foxtail Barley (Hordeum jubatum) It looks to me like the Foxtail Barley has a better grasp of the meaning of “We” than we do.
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Life is a journey…
Grandfather says this: in life there is sadness as well as joy, losing as well as winning, falling as well as standing. I do not say this to make you despair, but to teach you that life is a journey sometimes walked in light and sometimes walked in shadow.
Joseph Marshall III in KEEP GOING -
… it has a song
Meadowlark from June 2023 “A bird does not sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”
Chinese ProverbIt has been a hot day for us but clouds did move in to cool us down and it has turned into a lovely evening.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. -
This Morning’s Clouds
a canvas of blue sky
mws
a few fluffy clouds
sun rising above the trees
and a tear runs down my cheek
finding more moments
like this lately as I ride
in the early morning
nature freely offering her gifts -
Sacred Journey
I am a traveler on a sacred journey through this one shining day.
Richard Wagamese, Embers -
Perseverance
As I waited outside the coffee shop the other morning I noticed this small plant making its way up through the cracks in the sidewalk. When we pay attention we can watch nature as it perseveres to grow against what seems like great odds. I found this definition of perseverance: it is the continued effort to achieve something despite difficulties, failures, or opposition. I believe this plant is living that definition and is a great teacher if we pay attention. It is another hot day here as well in the east coast. Stay cool!!
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Sacred Instruments
I consider my journals and fountain pens as tools that enrich my life. They provide an ongoing spiritual impact on me, seeing them as sacred instruments. I’m aware that when I pick them up to journal in a public place such as a coffee shop, bookstore or library they present an image or statement about the life I live. But the true reason I journal is bringing to life a few words expressing my thoughts, ideas, dreams, and feelings. And, I have to smile when I see people with journals and pens in hand writing words on their blank pages. I secretly wonder what they are writing. What thoughts or images are being envisioned in their minds. Are they writing a short story, novel, poetry, letter, or maybe writing about me watching them.
A reflective moment This Gemini generated image made several weeks ago begs many questions for me. Are the words she is finding on her pages voicing the grieving of the loss of a parent or a spouse, or feeling the experience of a new man in her life, or the excitement of her first great-grandbaby that’s due in a month, or reflecting on her life’s journey of 76 years, or maybe a time to pause and listen to the rain while watching the world pass by? Maybe it’s all of it! But it really makes no difference what story my imagination can create because it encourages me to continue my journaling. Something I like in this photo after spending some time looking at it is how gently she holds the journal and the pen. Maybe they are sacred instruments to her, also.
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Pedro’s Coffee
We had a very good rain yesterday afternoon, and a much needed rain. So this morning, we have high humidity and the possibility of more rain and thunderstorms this afternoon. This morning we changed things up and Jeff and I met up at a coffee shop called Pedro’s Coffee. They had these chocolate glazed donuts with little sprinkles on them in the display case that was too tempting for me not to pass up. And I will say the Americano was good but the donut was gooder. And as always so was the conversation. If you’re hot stay cool. If you’re getting wet dry off. If life is perfect, smile!
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A nice start to this day…
Within each of us there is a silence, a silence as vast as the universe.
Gunilla Norris
And when we experience that silence, we remember who we are.I have not been to Pineridge Natural Area in quite some time so I changed that this morning. It is supposed to rain later today, which means there would be a chance for colors with clouds at sunrise. I parked, turned off the car and was met with silence. I was given a bit of pink color along the horizon and the air was clear of smoke. Dixon Reservoir was calm and offered a nice reflection. I took a few photos then left to meet Jeff at the coffee shop. Sunrise and silence, coffee and conversation with a friend, always a nice start to the day.
