AFTER THE STORM

Yesterday, I went to a Women's Retreat for the day. What a wonderful experience it was! It was based on a movie and book by Andrew Zuckerman. The book is incredibly wonderful with large photos of the subjects that were interviewed for the movie. Some of these subjects are Frank Gehry, Chuck Close, Robert Redford, Massimo Vignelli, and so many more. You can read about this project and also watch a movie trailer here. The retreat was titled: Women's Wisdom in the World. It was a great experience being around smart, intelligent women who actually had thoughts that were stimulating and provocative.
The book is described on the website as being "Inspired by the idea that one of the greatest gifts one generation can pass to another is the wisdom it has gained from experience..." A few of the quotes that I took away from the movie were (loosely) Push yourself to the fear level.---Wisdom is a question.---Embrace uncertainty.---Be yourself. It is the only choice you have.---Respect difference: it is the essence of humanity.---You can't get to wonderful without passing through alright. And on and on. Check out the trailer. I'm sure that you will be impressed.
At the end of the day I headed home late in the afternoon. The clouds had already cleared at the retreat, but coming home they were still piled up against the foothills heading toward home. It was incredible to see the clouds starting to disperse and build in the east as they were leaving the area. The sun was displaying its magic too as it gently lowered its head in the west. The brilliance of the sun against the clouds was remarkable. It made me glad that I had my camera with me. These moments are sometimes once in a lifetime and hard to explain unless you see it for yourself. Later, when I downloaded these, I noticed that someone else was watching the beauty also. This mystery person was just standing there on the hillside admiring the sky like I was. We were enjoying the same moment in time without knowing it.
From the retreat I remember one quote especially: "Peace is an inside job!" Today, as I sit at my desk and write this I can honestly say that I am at peace with myself. I know that my actions have always been genuine, that I have never said anything (knowingly) that was meant to hurt someone, and that I have embraced uncertainty.

A quote from Bryce Courtenay: "It's not about brains, it's not about accumulation of knowledge, it's about being decent." And finally, a quote from John Hume "The answer to difference is to respect it, not fight about it." I learned a lot in this retreat. I confirmed a lot in this retreat. For me it was about three words in particular: connectedness, synchronicity, and resilience. I am I alright where I am right now. I am passing through alright on my way to wonderful!

ON MY WALLS

Do you ever find something in your yard and wonder what you could do with it? I found this great piece of bark, all curled up as though the branch had just ejected itself from the inside. I looked at it and it had this empty spot, as if it were a mouth waiting to say something. I had to do something with this piece of bark and this is what the end product was. It's a collage of items that I felt went together. Hard to say really, what it actually MEANS, but to me, it speaks of ocean, of shark (teeth), of rainfall, of water, and of course, that crow: the one that follows me everywhere I go.

This was a photo of my family and myself from years before. I was unaware of the crow back then. Funny how he made himself noticeable even then. It took me until now to see it though. Sometimes, it takes years to see what is right under your nose. I guess I wasn't ready then but I am now.

THE MIRROR HAS FACES

My dog, Bodhi, on his way to the groomer yesterday. He doesn't mind having his picture taken at all! Now, ME...that's another story!The only thing vaguely similar in these two photos is the "white" hair!!! I wish that I didn't mind MY photo being taken but...it has never been my favorite thing to do. But, I was trying to play with my new camera and learn how to use it so that I can take better photos. I wanted to take a sepia photo but for the life of me could not figure it out. I need the manual!!! Why does a camera come in a box sans manual? Sure...there is a disk that you can read page by page ON YOUR COMPUTER but I am a "hands on" type of person. The heck with all this running back and forth, clicking different pages, and trying to figure it out. I want to HOLD the manual IN MY HANDS and practice, step-by-step all the options. I know, you say, PRINT IT! It is about 150 pages long. Do I have enough ink left in my printer? Wouldn't it be easier for them to just include it in the box for me?? Maybe there is a phone number or an address that I can contact to have them mail it to me. So, for now, please excuse the less-than-perfect pictures as I stumble through this. I just found that there is a button for fireworks in there!!! What other settings are lurking in this wonderful black box? It's no longer just "point and shoot". There are buttons and settings to think about. Can this "white-haired" human accomplish this? Well, I'm going to try. That's all I can say. At least I haven't given up. I think that I will prove the phrase "can't teach an old dog new tricks" wrong. I WILL LEARN. I hope seeing me isn't TOO scary!!

SIX SENSES SUNDAY

Today I am following Melanie's lead and posting a Six Senses Sunday on my blog. I just felt I needed to explore these senses more and get in touch with them. Thanks, Melanie, for making me aware of them and for piquing my interest in how they can be explored and understood.

SEE

• Old photos of my twins from 1982. It brought back so many memories to me this afternoon.
• The snow still piled up on the deck and under the trees from the most recent storm.
• A red hawk sitting on the phone lines in the pouring rain, feathers all full and fluffy.
• The paint drying on my latest bag project. (See below)

HEAR

• The sound of my son-in-law talking to himself when he thought that no one was listening.
• The sound of the espresso machine at Starbuck's making foam for my mocha.
• The voice of a friend from 1972 that I recently found on Facebook and haven't talked to in all that time.
• The details of his life and where he lives now in Tennessee.

SMELL

• The scent of the grass at the golf course as my daughters and I walked in the rain today. It smelled vaguely like watermelon. I know: odd but true.
• The smell of my mocha being made at Starbuck's. Love that warm coffee smell.
• My daughter's freshly washed and groomed Pomeranian, Bear. Yummy dog fur with a scent of strawberries or something fruity.
• Grilled cheese being made by my son-in-law. Toasty, warm goodness. That and some alcoholic beverage that required fresh-squeezed limes! Yummy!

TASTE

• The taste of my Honey flavored, all natural, Greek Yogurt with crunchy almonds and dried cranberries stirred in. How delicious!
• Oatmeal cookies dunked in my coffee.
• My Smart Dogs. I like them but no one else does. I guess it's "cook-you-own-dinner" night!

FEEL

• The sadness of seeing the photo of a friend's child from 1982 and realizing that we will never see each other again or share wonderful memories like the one I see in the photo below. This child STILL loves her cats. I wonder if she still has her face painted occasionally. She definitely was "the star" that day (as evidenced by her face!). She is all grown up now and will be married this year sometime. I wish her nothing but happiness in her new life.
• The warmth of the wood fire when I returned home. There is nothing like the way that a wood fire goes deep to your bones. No heat I have ever experienced feels as good as wood heat does.
• My husband's warm hug when I returned home from my walk. Nothing like the hug from someone you love.

TOUCH

• The fabric of this new painted bag after it has dried.
• The fabric of soft cotton waiting to be painted.
• The fur of my poodle, Bodhi. So soft, so curly, so thick and warm.
• My husband, warm and cozy in his Sunday lounging clothes. A day of football and he is ultra-relaxed.

MY DRIVE HOME TODAY

Driving home today I left Placer County and headed south on Highway 49. Highway 49 passes over the north fork, middle fork and south fork of The American River. I crossed over the confluence of the north fork and the middle fork and just about in the middle of the bridge I entered El Dorado County. Highway 49 is a narrow, winding two-lane highway that hangs on the edge of a steep canyon and over-looks the river. I followed the two-lane highway to the first place that I could pull over to take pictures. It was pouring rain and this moss-covered section of rocks was soaking it all in, swelling with each drop as if it were a great, green sponge. The ferns are lush in this bend of the highway and may go unnoticed by most travelers.
As I got much closer to home, the scenery changed drastically. This area also used to be lush with trees and ferns but was sold to Duarte Vineyards. Most of the trees were cut down and turned into poles (which mark the rows of the grapes) with a loud, grinding machine that ran practically 18 hours a day. If the neighbors would not have complained about the noise factor, I'm sure they would have run that machine 24 hours per day. They took our trees AND our quiet for most of that summer. There is now a gorgeous view of mountains that we could not see before but we lost the beauty of the trees. How do you justify losing one for the other? My husband says that you can't stop progress--that people change and so does life. I guess that's true. You give up something but you might get something better to fill the void. It's the road we choose to travel that matters.
Shortly, I arrived at the top of my road, where the snowflakes were starting to really become thick and steady. I opened my window and pointed my camera at the falling snow as it drifted ever-so-softly to the ground. I followed the road to the end where there was a coil of smoke rising out of the chimney and a fire inside the house waiting for me. Home! "...Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

Part of "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

BEFORE IT SNOWS...

...AND I LOSE MY INTERNET CONNECTION, HERE ARE TWO SHOTS OF THE SAME THING EXCEPT THE ARTIST TRADING CARD IS TURNED OVER. THE ARTIST TRADING CARD IS FROM JEN WORDEN. SHE DOES THE MOST INCREDIBLE ART I HAVE EVER SEEN. LOVE THE COLORS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF CALLING CARDS.

HAVE A GREAT FRIDAY. WE ARE HAVING SNOW AGAIN WHICH USUALLY MEANS NO POWER AND NO INTERNET. IF THAT IS THE CASE, I WILL TOUCH BASES WITH YOU ALL WHEN IT RETURNS.

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Last week I posted an image of my mailbox and also wrote a poem about it. I know that if you send things out to the universe, the universe answers. The next day, while I was away, B opened up the mailbox and there was a package inside. When I returned home, he told me I had received a package. I immediately opened it and as luck would have it, it was FILLED with two of my most favorite things: hearts and crows! The heart mirror on the right was inside the box, wrapped up in tissue paper, and safe as can be. It now hangs on the wall in my bathroom next to another tin heart and the wire hanger below it that holds two wire baskets. These wonderful gifts were sent to me by Melanie of Secret Notebooks, Wild Pages. Thank you so much, Melanie. Funny thing is that she sent them before she saw my post about my mailbox. Great minds think alike, or so I've heard!
Melanie also sent me these two postcards that she made. She has an online portfolio at this address. She is a VERY talented person who lives and works in Mass. Go check out her blog and her portfolio. I sure you, too, will be impressed. She is very thoughtful, very talented, very sweet. I am happy to call her my friend.

FOLLOWING WILLOW'S LEAD

Back in 2001, when I was attending college for my art degree, we made a book in one of my classes. Little did I know then that the title of that book would inspire me with my blog but that is where the title "Working the Earth" originally came from and has continued to this day. The book was made with blank pages interspersed here and there so that I could add on at any time. I have continued to be inspired in this vein.
Willow, of Willow Manor, wrote today about how her bathtub invokes thoughts. I always thought that I was a little crazy because I really love my bathtub and hardly ever take a shower. For me, the bathtub has always been a place that invokes deep thinking. Just like Willow. Thank you Willow, for writing about this and helping me to see that I am not crazy, weird, or even alone in this. My bathtub has always been a sanctuary for me; a place that I can go and relax and work things out. I fill the tub up with bubbles and light candles. Ahhh-----peace!
I stare out the window when I am in my bathtub, seeing faces in the trees just as Willow sees faces in her candle. I have even sat in my tub at times with pencil and paper and drawn the faces that I see peering back at me. Sometimes there are scary faces, sometimes there are laughing faces. I have even seen American Indian Chiefs out there in the trees. I guess this is what being an artist is: seeing things or imagining from things that we see.
Here is an image from the book that I did regarding my bathtub. At the time, my daughter had just gone through open-heart surgery and there were a few moments (days) there that we weren't sure what her prognosis was. Would she have brain damage? Would she even remember how to add and subtract again? Would she have a long life and be able to have children? Would she even survive? She was only 21 when she collapsed while practicing for track and field. We later found out that she had an anomaly and a very rare condition for which there were only 100 reported cases and very few surgeries ever performed for her condition. It was diagnosed as Sudden Death in Athlete Syndrome and was usually caught when they did the autopsy! We were lucky...she survived and has gone on to be married and have a wonderful daughter who will be turning 5 in May. -------At that time in my life, my bathtub was the place that I retreated to each night to work things out. Friends were fairly absent during this time in my life. I had no one close-by to hold my hand and listen to my sadness except my family. And my bathtub! My bathtub helped me work through these things.
Here is a poem from my book. The poem is titled "Time to Let Go". In case the function doesn't work that allows you to maximize, here is the poem for you.

I lie in my tub.

Warm water and lavender bubbles seep slowly

Into every pore.

Sky is dark.

Sweet smell of candles in the air.

Clock on the wall

Is ticking.

My thoughts turn inward.

Are you doing well

Without me?

Are you safe?

I should be there with you.

You are alone.

My tub cannot wash the pain away.

Yet, months are carried upward by

The hot wax of the burning candles.

Alone, now, I can only hope that time

Will heal you.

My worries swirl down the drain of the tub.

My thoughts float on the pool of hot wax.

Tick, tock.

Tick, tock.

My bathtub continues to be my place of solace. I retreat there sometimes more than once a day when I need to relax, when I can't fall asleep, when I want to think through things that are bothering me, when I want to be inspired. Something about the calming effect of the water is always there to soothe me. Willow: we are tub sisters, you and I. Next time you are there, send a thought my way. I just might receive it or see it in the trees.

THE SUMMER DAY

Who made the world?

Who made the swan, and the black bear?

Who made the grasshopper?

This grasshopper, I mean--

the one who has flung herself out of the grass,

the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,

who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down--

who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.

Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down

into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day.

Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?

Poem from New and Selected Poems, by Mary Oliver (1992); Beacon Press.

THOUGHTS

This is our sweet dog, Bodhi. He was named Bodhi because we feel that we were led to find him. Certain Buddhist sutras stress that bodhi is always present and perfect and simply needs to be uncovered. Bodhi is the ultimate goal of Buddhist life. It is achieved by observing the eight-fold path, the development of the "paramitas" (virtues) and profound wisdom into the dependently arisen nature of phenomena.

This dog is a constant reminder to us of how we should live our lives. He is so loving. He is so trusting. He constantly wants to be touched and always is within a short distance of either of us. He truly shows us how the virtues in life. We are thrilled to have him in our lives even though he is still a puppy (less than 2). Sometimes we forget that because he is so well-behaved.

I was thinking of enlightenment and the idea of bodhi tonight and wanted to commend all the bloggers that I follow (all these wonderful artists) for their care and concern of those in Haiti at the present time. You should all be commended for taking time to blog about charitable organizations that we can donate to, for donating your wares and your time to raise funds for the people in Haiti, and for just plain caring enough to take the time to talk about other people and their needs instead of rambling on and on about your own lives and plans. You have all been self-less and it is noticed. I, once again, am thrilled to be part of such a caring community of artists who are generous with their time and their money and who show everyday the virtues of such a community. I am honored to call you my friends!

WAITING

SILVER BOX

SITS

SILENTLY.

TWO LEGS PRESSED

INTO

HEAVY SOIL.

KEYS

UNLOCK

SECRETS.

TWO LEGS WALK

SILENTLY.

KEYS

UNLOCK

SILENCE.

WORDS TO TRAVEL BY

• MEET THE LOCALS AND DO WHAT THEY DO.
• LOOK FOR A SPOT TO EAT BEFORE YOU'RE STARVING.
• PACK LIGHT--IF YOU'RE NOT SURE WHETHER TO BRING IT, YOU PROBABLY DON'T NEED IT.
• MAINTAIN A SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCE.
• WHEN FLYING WITH A TOT, BRING EARPLUGS TO GIVE NEARBY PASSENGERS.
• WHEN YOU VISIT A FOREIGN COUNTRY, LEARN A FEW SIMPLE PHRASES IN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE--BONJOUR, ARIGATO, POR FAVOR.
• LEAVE A GENEROUS TIP FOR YOUR HOTEL HOUSEKEEPERS.
• HAVE AS MANY PICNICS AS POSSIBLE.
• WEAR SUNSCREEN, COMFORTABLE SHOES, AND A SMILE.

Adapted from VIA magazine--November & December 2009

MENTAL IMAGERY AND AFFIRMATION

The name Narcissus comes from a Greek word meaning: to numb. It was given this name because if one is enclosed in a small space with the flower, the scent will induce headache. Chinese Feng Shui believes the flower brings good luck for the next 12 months if forced to bloom during the New Year. The daffodil, also a form of narcissus is the American Cancer Society's symbol of hope that a cure for cancer will be found. They believe it symbolizes new hope and life.

Lore connecting the daffodil to not only a sign of winter's end but a lucky emblem of future prosperity is found throughout the world. In psychoanalysis narcissism is excessive self-love.

I found these flowers blooming in the front of a house in one of my favorite neighborhoods in Auburn. I have to say that seeing them en mass gave me a definite feeling of hope. Maybe they numbed me at that moment to hearing about the freezing temperatures across the nation, about the sadness of losing a life-long friend forever, of a nation that seems to be struggling with prosperity, of seeing homeless people shut out in the cold with no place to go, and so on.

My wish is that these flowers represent a lucky emblem of future prosperity...throughout the world. I read once that imagination creates reality. Shakti Gawain says "Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desire must come to you." AND SO IT IS!

PONDERING

Mushrooms I found on my walk today. Don't they look like coral from the ocean? I have never seen these before. Eyes on the ground; there are things to be found. You can click to enlarge.

Something I heard today that made me ponder was this:

THE SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY TRIANGLE

• Relationship with God--The process of actively seeking what God means for each of us, being clear about what we believe.
• Relationship with Self--The process of discovering our own strengths and sacred worth. Taking care of ourselves physically and intellectually.
• Relationship with Others--To see the sacred worth of others, and to all others to reflect that same thing back to us and hold us accountable.

I don't mean to be preaching here. I have a spiritual belief in what "God" means to me. But, I like the idea of the triangle and the community.

The blog community that I follow is very strong and I see spirituality in all the blogs that I follow. I love you all for that. Here is a song that speaks to me with wonderful, loving words. It's incredible what you find when you least expect it. Sort of like stumbling upon those mushrooms emerging from under the leaves. What an incredible metaphor.

HOW CAN ANYONE EVER TELL YOU

YOU ARE ANYTHING LESS THAN BEAUTIFUL?

HOW COULD ANYONE EVER TELL YOU

YOU ARE LESS THAN WHOLE?

HOW COULD ANYONE FAIL TO NOTICE

THAT YOUR LOVING IS A MIRACLE

AND HOW DEEPLY YOU'RE CONNECTED TO MY SOUL!

This follows my whole "interconnectedness" theme. In Avatar, the movie, they say to each other "I see you" meaning they SEE what is deep inside of whomever they are with. They are connected to each other and ALL living creatures and lifeforms. A wonderful idea to ponder and also recognize that life may throw rocks (as Nina Bagley says) at us but we have the choice of how to deal with it.

BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE...

You never know what you find at the entrance to someones house. This display of bones is artfully displayed at the entrance to the house of a friend of mine. He is a contractor and obviously has a keen eye for display. These bones are wrapped with wires, hanging from limbs of trees, and mounted in all sorts of different ways along with assorted metal bands. It's been awhile since I drove down the road toward Michael's house but this display seems to grow each time I see it. I love how it sets the stage for what you will find once you enter his property. It proves to me that you don't have to have a degree in art to be an artist.

INTERCONNECTEDNESS

This is something that I have recently started working on. It will be the under-painting for many more objects and details but you have to start someplace, right? I am calling it "Interconnectedness" at this moment.

I'm sure there are many of you out there who have seen Avatar. We have seen it twice; once on a regular screen and once on IMAX. I highly recommend it in 3-D or at the IMAX theater because it is that much better. There is a definite theme of interconnectedness going on in Avatar. I thought it was a really incredible movie. Am I the only one who cried during it? When you think of how everything in life is connected (like I have said before on this blog) it really makes you appreciate how your impact on this earth really matters. Everything you say, do, buy, think, feel is related to someone/something else on this big blue marble. Can one person make a difference? You bet! We have to start in our own backyards and hopefully what and who you come in contact will be positively impacted and will carry it forward.

DOWN THE ROAD A BIT

"THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE OUTSIDE OF A HORSE THAT IS GOOD FOR THE INSIDE OF A MAN." Winston Churchill

AM I WORTHY?

I have been aware of the importance of the crow (or raven) in my life since the time of my daughter's open-heart surgery in 1998. I used to hear the crow "talking" to me from the trees but never really saw him there. But, I was aware of his message and what he was trying to say. Since then, crow has made himself much more apparent in my life and whenever I am worried or upset he makes himself present to me in the most unusual places. Today, he was in the tree and on the fence of the softball field. He waited just long enough for me to take his picture and receive his message then flew off.

According to this, "Native American Indian lore describes the raven as a creature of metamorphosis and symbolizes change/transformation. Often honored among medicine and holy men of tribes for its shape-shifting qualities, the Raven was called upon in ritual so that visions could be clarified. Native holy men understood that what the physical eye sees, is not necessarily the truth, and they would call upon the Raven for clarity in these matters.

Foremost, the Raven is the North American bearer of magic, and a harbinger of messages from the cosmos. Messages that are beyond space and time are nestled in the midnight wings of the Raven and come to only those within the tribe who are worthy of the knowledge.

The Raven is also called upon in Native ritual for healing purposes. Specifically, the Raven is thought to provide long-distance healing.

The Raven is also a keeper of secrets, and can assist us in determining answers to our own "hidden" thoughts. Areas in our lives that we are unwilling to face, or secrets we keep that harm us--the Raven can help us expose the truth behind these (often distorted) secrets and wing us back to health and harmony.

Dr. Carl Jung deemed raven symbolism to represent the shadow self, or the dark side of the psyche...by acknowledging this dark side we can effectively communicate with both halves of ourselves. This offers liberating balance, and facilitates tremendous wisdom".

CROW

I can hear you talking

In the tree

Above me

But I cannot

See you.

What are you trying

To tell me?

Beware

Relax

Open your eyes.

I look up.

Straining,

I see your yellow stare.

You fly away

To another tree.

I

Am

Listening.

copyright Teri Mahl 1998

THE NEW YEAR AND LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

"Franz Liszt, Hungarian composer and piano virtuoso said it best to Marie d' Agoult...Heaven, Hell, everything, all is with you, redoubled...Oh! Leave me free to rave in my delirium. Drab, tame, constricting reality is no longer enough for me. We must live our lives to the full, loving and suffering to extremes!"

(from www.lulu.com)

Today, while walking 4 miles with my daughter through million dollar homes and a golf course designed by Trent Jones Sr. (and possibly Jr. also), I saw this carcass on the side of a hill, stripped and laid barren. It reminded me that no amount of money can change what is to be in a life. Death comes to us all in our own time, a reminder to "live our lives to the full, loving and suffering to extremes."

"Knowing and understanding the laws of life, also called Truth, is not enough. We must also live the truth that we know."

This is the beginning of a new year, full of possibilities and chances to think and live differently. There has been much talk on many blogs about not doing resolutions but rather picking a word for the year and focusing on it and trying to "live" the word through actions, art, reflection. I have been thinking about this...a choice for a word...and one word has popped up more than once in things that I have watched on TV, things I have read, things I have listened to on the radio. That word is "GRACE". I think that it is important to learn to listen and recognize when the universe is sending you a message. There must be a reason why the word "grace" has been making its presence known to me. So, I got out my dictionary and read the definition of the word. Always, as with any word, there are multiple meanings. The following are words that apply for me:

• favor, charm, thanks
• pleasing, grateful
• the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful
• three sister goddesses in Greek mythology who are the givers of charm and beauty
• to confer dignity or honor on: adorn, embellish
• unmerited divine assistance given man for his regeneration or sanctification
• approval, favor
• a charming trait or accomplishment
• a pleasingly graceful appearance or effect : CHARM
• ease and suppleness of movement or bearing

I read all of these definitions and see something in all of them that I would like to complement my life in the coming year. There are qualities that I would like to make more a part of my inner self: being grateful, thankful, considerate or thoughtful. I have really been trying to be truthful with myself and with others. As stated above, we must also live the truth we know. I would love to attain approval and favor from those whom I look up to and admire. I would even love to attain suppleness and ease in my body. I know that I can do better with my diet and exercise program. The words "adorn" and "embellish" speak to me of my art. I have been feeling like I need to explore more and make more time for what I feel is important to me in regards to my art. So much of last year was devoted to healing myself and art got put on the back burner. Regeneration and sanctification seem to apply to this area of my life. Divine assistance would be the icing on the cake; a bonus of sorts.

So Grace: glad to meet you. We will be sharing the year, learning about each other. I will learn more about you and derivations of you (graceful, gracious, graced,)

BRIDGES TO THE NEW DECADE

This is a photo of the Auburn-Foresthill bridge. It is said to be the third highest in the United States and is the highest in the state of California. It rises above the north fork of the American River and the confluence of the north and middle forks. In this photo the foreground is the middle fork and it is running into the north fork in the middle of the photo. I drive past this bridge every time I go to Auburn. My husband drove past this bridge every day on his way to and from work for over 30 years. This is one type of bridge...a physical bridge.

Another type of bridge is what you see below. This small group of people (including myself) met in Auburn today for the Peace Pole rededication near the Auburn Library Amphitheater. This was a brief service reaffirming our vision of peace for the world. We read the Jewish prayer for peace, the Lakotah prayer for peace, Christian as well and Muslim and also Buddhist, etc.

"...And we shall beat our swords into ploughshares,

and our spears into pruning hooks.

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation-

Neither shall they learn war any more..."

(an excerpt from the Jewish Prayer for Peace)

NO MAN IS AN ISLAND, ENTIRE OF ITSELF; EVERY MAN IS A PIECE OF THE CONTINENT, A PART OF THE MAIN.

John Donne