Mindful, The Beginning and the End

This is where I started with the Mindful daily practice a year ago. And here is where I will end this year of observing and posting each day. Thank you to all the people who have commented so positively over time about the posts and what they have meant to them. You helped me keep going. For 2018 I am going to try something new - probably a sketch a day or working on hand stitching. Still not quite sure but will begin soon!

Mindful 2017

I am going to try and respond each day to this moving poem by Mary Oliver as my daily practice for 2017.

Mindful –

Every Day I see and hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light. It is what I was born for – to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world – to instruct myself over and over in joy, and acclamation. Nor am I talking about the exceptional, the fearful, the dreadful, the very extravagant- but of the ordinary, the common, the very drab, the daily presentations. Oh good scholar, I day to myself, how can you help but grow wise with such teachings as these- the untrimmable light of the world, the oceans shine, the prayers that are made out of grass?

Mindful, Day 362-363, The Never-ending Road

Having traveled in the car 4 out of the last 6 days, I about mesmerized myself watching the shadow of our car along the side of the road. It grew larger, smaller, taller, and wider depending on the roadside. And it seemed to move much faster then we were even though we were (at times) able to go 80 miles an hour. Funny how that didn't seem very fast at all in the wide open spaces!  

Mindful, Day 361, Plans

This daily devotional came today and it is a perfect ending to this year. Taking the long view, doing the daily work, laying the foundation one piece at a time, all strike a cord with me. I Had Planned Talitha Arnold

December 31, 2017

I had planned to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord. . . and I made preparations for building." - 1 Chronicles 28:1-10 King David had great plans, but God had other plans. The one thing he wanted most—building the Temple—he had to leave for his son Solomon. David's story is a good one for this year's final days. What plans did you have for 2018? What do you need to let go of? As the year draws to a close, a prayer by Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, written shortly before his assassination in 1980, offers this insight: "It helps now and then, to step back and take the long view. The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work. Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us. "We plant the seeds that one day will grow," Romero continued. "We lay foundations that will need further development. "We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning . . . an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest. "We may never see the end results," Romero concluded, "but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own. Amen." Prayer Help us step back and take the long view, O God. Thank you for the seeds you've helped us plant this year, the foundations you've enabled us to lay. Give us the wisdom to let go of other things. Like King David and Archbishop Romero, remind us that we are called to be workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. Amen.

Mindful, Day 359-360, On the Road Again

We are back on the road between Houston, TX and Palm Desert, CA.  There are 1400 miles between the two place and many of those miles are a lot and lot of lots and lots of open land.  I am reminded and mindful of how huge this country is and how different various areas are.  It has been nice to see again the changes. And we are excited to be getting close to Palm Desert again. We have had so many good and relaxing and fulfilling times there - our second home at this point.

MIndful, Day 358, Mom

I am mindful today of how lucky I was to have my Mom around until 5 years ago. Today would have been her 94th birthday. She was a caring, loving mother and friend to her large,extended family. Wish she were still here as she was before Parkinsons and dementia moved in. She loved having everyone together, especially at Christmas.

Mindful, Day 357, Houston Connection

We are in Houston for two days, into which we hope to pack a ton of time with Larry's son, Tim, and his family.  Always fun to see them, to explore and to catch up on one another's lives.  We are at the Lonestar Aviation Museum checking out airplanes and all things aviation. I am mindful of how fast the boys are growing and changing!

Mindful, Day 356, Names

We are on the way to Houston driving through Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. The names of towns along the way are wonderful, mysterious and funny.  For starters: Biggers, Success, Mule Ditch, Pocahontas, Evening Shade, Oil Trough and Marmaduke....so far. I would love to know the why behind some of these town names! But for now, I just keep an eye open for the next fun one.

Mindful, Day 355, Happy Holidays

 I am mindful of how meaningful this season is. It is filled with lovely traditions, explorations in faith, heartache and happiness.  Memories of Christmas past, memories of loved ones gone and missed, happiness at seeing children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grand-neices, grand nephews and who knows else growing and changing. Happy Holidays to all.

MIndful, Day 354, Christmas Traditions

I look forward every year to setting up our nativity scene. One year we use Larry's and one year we use mine.  This year is Larry's which has lovely little figures that all match. Mine has had some mishaps over the years and not all the figures are quite what they were. But no matter which we use it brings back long ago memories and connects us to those times and to the broader faith community.
Merry Christmas, everyone!

Mindful, Day 353, Cold Tangerines

As I get close to the end of the year I came across this lovely little book, Cold Tangerines, Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life. What a great book to get me through to the end of the year! She captures the same kinds of moments I am interested in but she writes beautiful essays about them. A wonderful gift.

Mindful, Day 352, Simplicity

I saw this quote today in an article about one of my favorite actors, Daniel Day Lewis. It strikes a chord for me. I spend a fair amount of time on my artwork trying to eliminate excess. I remember a book I read at some point about a Zen artist that spent hours preparing to do a write a calligraphic character in one fluid motion.

Mindful, Day 351, Orange

Little clementine oranges - dinner. Love the smell, the color, the texture and how easy they are to peel and eat. Nice to have a simple treat in this time of lots of indulgences!

MIndful, Day 349-350, Growling Rabbit?

I saw this sign in a coffee shop window. I am not sure I would ever want to meet a growling rabbit. But there has to be some great story behind the name!

Mindful, Day 348, Working Hands

I am thinking about a new series of work for next year based on the beauty of working hands. This photo came up in my search. I have always wanted to do hands and I have many saved photos. I think it is going to be a challenge but that is exciting, not scary!

Mindful, Day 346-347, Garden Shadows

A beautiful walk through the Chicago Botanic Garden on a sunny, not too cold, not windy at all day was relaxing and restorative.

Mindful, Day 345, One Last Reminder

As I enter the last stretch of days to the end of the year I need to give myself one last reminder about the purpose of this blog!

Mindful –

Every Day I see and hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light. It is what I was born for – to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world – to instruct myself over and over in joy, and acclamation. Nor am I talking about the exceptional, the fearful, the dreadful, the very extravagant- but of the ordinary, the common, the very drab, the daily presentations. Oh, good scholar, I say to myself, how can you help but grow wise with such teachings as these- the untrimmable light of the world, the oceans shine, the prayers that are made out of grass?  Mary Oliver

So, over the next few weeks I will continue to observe and find those small, insignificant things that add joy to my days.

MIndful, Day 344, For the Birds

A pair of beautiful blue jays arrived this morning at the bird feeder. I think they liked that I spilled half the seed on the ground  trying to fill the feeder. I wish I could have gotten closer to capture the brilliant blue on their feathers! A lovely treat on a sunny day.

Mindful, Day 343, Good Sight

Today I am mindful that having an experienced ophthalmologist and staying on top of things is a wonderful blessing. I took this visual field test today to see if I have any problems with glaucoma. Which it seems I don't except...  that I have an unusually shaped optic nerve and blindspot so maybe yes, maybe no. But at least I know that something is not quite right and we are on top of it. I think it's just I am a little "off".  Probably won't get any arguments from my family or friends on that one. :-)
NOTE the test shown is a sample -not mine!

Mindful, Day 342, Warm Up Time

Went to the Christmas Market in Chicago today and this is the thing that got my attention.  My daughter has seen the pigeons here before and said that she has seen some with singed feathers!  I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Mindful, Day 341, Looking Forward

A few weeks ago I shot more Still Life in Indigo photos to add to my series. I just got the printed fabric back and am preparing them for stitching while we are gone in January and February. Most of this set combines leaves with other objects so it seems like my series are merging. I am looking forward to the meditative time I spend doing intense stitching on them.These are two of about twenty, not all of which will probably become part of the series. I am mindful that when you love what you do it is a joy to look forward to lots of work. I may need to remind myself of that again later!