imagine THAT

While pondering the mysteries of the universe today my supervisor gave me the afternoon OFF...YIPPEEE! I'm off to go kiss ALL of my grandchildren and probably buy them silly things that don't mean a THING.

Have a good weekend all!

headed home...

yes...two blogs entries in one day...not just two but FOUR actually considering the entries in my other blog...but here's the deal...it's closing time, I feel a warm sense of accomplishment that's rare and enjoyable...I hope you all had days like this today!!!!

sky woman awakens...

On my way to work this morning I drove in a hurry...no matter how early I get up I STILL end up rushing out the door at the last minute hoping not to be NOTICEABLY late...

As I drove I was in awe of Sky Woman's shawl this morning, woven from the pink hints of sleepy dreams blending into cool blue hues of a good day's sky and fringed with the morning song heard echoing through the hollows.

She chuckled at me because she knew I was having a hard time waking up. Sky Woman stretched and yawned...in her yawn sparkles of ice fell to the ground frosting delicate wheat fronds left from past summer's heat.

Quietly humming the song I had heard I realized Sky Woman had awakened me with her song...I thanked her and looked around me, she had begun her dance of the day...

While we hurry about with our all important duties, Sky Woman dances with dignity across our hours...she sings for this dance, waving her graceful hands in rhythm and hope...

Sky Woman as you probably know holds the secrets we ponder...she chuckles kindly as she reaches into her silken bag and sprinkles answers for this day...
I hope I can catch some!!!!

colorful gifts...

sometimes I am astonished by color...
do you look at your surroundings? Do you see the hint of green grass quietly hidden in the frozen ferns of last years' lush forest? Pause to notice the radiant hue of aquamarine pooling at that ONE spot on the river? I watched the Color Purple over the weekend while I was weaving this bag as a gift for my friend...

Although this work is sometimes tedious I am thankful for my friend's request...she chuckled to me in an aside one day..."oh you know how I love color...just put a lot of COLOR in it..." and THAT is how I remember to look around me and enjoy each hue of the day...

and just for extra measure, here's my brother working on a capote (Hudson Fur Trader Coat) for me...I can't wait to sport those colors at the longhouse!!!!

simple things...

I do love the weekends...this one wasn't spectacular in any way...began with the usual frivolities for which I remain the driver:-) Saturday arrived with no hurrah, only a quiet mellow day with chores to do and a few groceries to pick up...in the afternoon I got restless and asked my brother if he'd like to go on a drive...

Off we went to Waiilitspuu (Walla Walla) for a quick drive and to use a Christmas gift at A____.
When we got there, the sunset was magnificent and I had my brother take a shot because sometimes when it's more important his pictures are just better than mine:-)

oh what an interesting day we had...full of chatting and solving the worlds's problems...retelling stories of warmth and history...

We talked about anything and everything...and nothing...

We appreciate the small things...and we give thanks for the simple things!!!!

When I got home I went to work on a project I've been needing to get done...accompanied by a hot cup of tea and a bowl of frozen blueberries...one of my favorite all time treats.

a simple day ended with light and color...

in case you didn't notice...

I love both water and mornings...well, I also love purple and shiny sparkles...and lemons and berries...

Anyway, this was on my way to work today and it made me smile:-)

I have a story to share soon but for now, I hope you all are having a really really good and productive day!

"no one can make you feel bad without your permission" eleanor roosevelt

The older I get the more I understand the wisdom of this wise woman's words. I'm somewhat annoyed that it took so long!

This has been a long weekend. I love long weekends not because they herald a few days of lazy times dozing by the fire, but they usually mean some wonderful adventure is about to unfold in my small universe. I anticipated the weekend last week with impatient angst. My job as you all may or may not know is not my favorite place to be but as Ms.Roosevelt says, it's my choice how to feel about THAT.

Friday came along and the usual friday ceremonies took place...jollifications downtown for my brother, a very very VERY short time at the casino for me:-) (fortunately I've learned the limitations of a dollar!)

Saturday was the birthday celebration for a tribal elder...we were invited and got dressed in our best for the occasion - for me this meant my favorite wingdress, otter wraps for my braids, favorite earrings and necklaces, oops, better mend my moccasins so the grandmas don't laugh at me! For my brother this meant having me iron that one ribbon shirt he really likes, otter wraps for HIS braids, etc...

We got to the "doings" and were met with many hugs and "happy new years" from friends and relatives. Loud bursts of laughter filled the air and the hum of conversation wafted warm like the fresh aroma of homemade rolls the lined the tables.

Oh so much beauty filled the room, the wisdom of a few tribal elders outshines brilliant sunsets and their stories are woven of the finest pieces of silvery lined clouds...

it was a beautiful day...

Sunday came along and we carefully dressed for longhouse. again in our best...

Monday, my "daughter" (adopted...she's lovely and tall and blonde with beautiful rich blue eyes) called and was worried about making the trip to PDX to bring grand-daughter N home from her visit. Of course this grandma and grandpa leapt at the chance to spend a few moments with N!
Rich kisses and deep belly laughs were had by all.

It was a wonderful joyous weekend!

JOY TO THE WORLD

I had an astounding phone call today...
So amazing to hear the voice of my dear dear friend!
Like a hug from afar...

Thank you JOY!!!!

tender tendrils green shoots...

the cold wind blows gently
stirring deep from the deep
quietly dreams awakened
songs ring from within sleep

rest well my sweet friend
gently i let you go
sweet waft in your wake
oh how you taught me to grow

and with hope i look
toward horizon's sun

 twinkling sphere smiles warm

colorful spirit spun...

anew from tear soaked soul

springs stalwart coils of root

beatific rises fresh life
tender tendrils  green shoots

thus speaks sky woman
listen closely, she is wise
embrace pain lost
and move forward open eyes...

making the best of things...

Well. On the bright side, I figured out how to bluetooth important (music) files from my computer to my new cell phone. Also on the bright side, I am alive, still lovin' the color purple AND the beautiful flow of watery Aunties around me...

I have four beautiful grand-daughters, offspring of three of my amazing children, I have one gifted son who although he hasn't gotten around to the children yet never fails to make me smile when I talk to him on the phone...

Life is good.

I thought about these things over the weekend, having spent a great deal of time with one of my darlings and hearing nothing but wailing and gnashing of teeth regarding financial woes...I realized that perhaps in my youth, when these beautiful babies were babies, I worked too hard at making the best of things, because apparently they don't seem to know we were dirt poor at the time...

My family spent the better part of 1981 eating macaroni...macaroni salad (a dab of mayonnaise and a LOT of wild greens from bountiful Montana meadows), macaroni and ham (diced to the TINIEST portions imaginable two slices given to me by loving friends), plain macaroni, macaroni and milk (pretend mac and cheese)...you get the drift? We lived in my brother-in-law's tool shed which happily was near the creek...where winter AND summer, in Northern Montana, I bathed...

My husband couldn't find work so we happened upon the great "post logging" system, I didn't know it but I was pregnant with our first child. My husband would stay "up top" cutting down post sized trees and I would lash four or five of them together and drag them down the hillside to our pickup where I would also load them one at a time on the truck...we would take our "big truckfull" to the post mill for what? Maybe about $20 if we had a good haul. I didn't care, that was laundry, a hot bath, some butter or milk (for the macaroni).

As we grew and had more children, things didn't seem to change, my beautiful artistic and loving husband was a dreamer...this being so, we hardly ever had a steady income...as a child I had determined that should I ever be in a position to make such decisions, I would not force my children to wear "sturdy" or "functional" clothes...if they so desired and when appropriate I would provide them to the best of my ability with the latest and greatest fashions of the day...

Long story short, and fast forward to over the weekend, I found myself not being too sympathetic to said weepings, wailings and gnashing of teeth...I realized that all of those "hardships" had made me strong and had served to teach me creativity...sewing hoods from freebag sweatshirts onto flannel shirts picked up at GW...sewing bows from old dresses on to stockings to be hung for Christmas; wake up one morning and hate my  clothes? One day I made a delightful floral skirt from what I think was an old quilt back I found upstairs...no one knew, in fact I have a  picture of that skirt and I STILL love it:-)

I think a little hardship is good for today's youth and although I worked hard at making the best of things I wouldn't change it for all the money in the world.

Making the best of things is character building:-)

clean slate

I love the dawn of a new year...just like each new day, all that was is gone and we forge bravely into the NEW...new year, new day, new outlook, new attitude! YES. I'm not one for new years resolutions. I think they are our very best set up for failure so I won't go THERE...

Here's some words, not written by me, but good words to work towards:

• If you can live without caffeine or nicotine (I crave both on a daily basis but only smoke when I gamble)
• If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains (I try, really, I do, but DANG I'm friends with those pain pills!!!!)
• If you can resist complaining (okay, this is a tough one)
• If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you any time (conversely...?)
• If you can take criticism and blame without resentment (this is my YEAR for learning this with grace)
• If you can ignore friends' limited educations and never correct them (oh wow...didn't see THAT  one coming; you mean like don't JUDGE???? you know, don't judge and then act like you're not judging but TRULY, don't judge? It's on!!!)
• If you can treat the rich and poor alike (not a problem)
• If you can face the world without lies or deceit (please help me someone...)
• If you can conquer tension without medical help (please see the aches and pains bullet)
• If you can have no prejudice against creed, color, religion, gender, sexual preference, or politics (whatever, I'm going back to bed!!!! 'member? new day tomorrow???)

— then you have almost reached the same level of spiritual development as your dog.

Happy New Years my friends!!!!!
 
Note: Sorry to have been away but my access is limited although NOW I have a new gadget phone and can check more frequently! YAY!!!