We have an unusually cold storm making its way through the past few days that is
bringing very rare snow to the low hills. I am bundled up in layers of of my hand knits while admiring the blossoms on the tress and seeing my roses starting to spout new growth. Something about the comfort of warm, familiar layers mixed with the bursting of life feels important to embrace.
Enjoy this weeks tiny things. A mix of comfort and growth.
1.
What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness. John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley
2.
I decided February would be "kindness to my heart month". I mean all aspects of heart. Physical, emotional, and spiritual. Which actually means I have been showing myself more intentional kindness and care. Surprise, surprise, it makes a difference.
The last thing I need, that any of us needs are more things to do, more ways to corral ourselves into tight measurements of "good". I can ramble on and on about the importance of self-care, but really what I want for all of us is more
gentleness towards ourselves and more space to feel into the beauty of living.
It takes practice.
3.
As part of "February Kindness" I've been making afternoon chai for my husband and myself. I've made it a lovely ritual. I am using this as inspiration and have been experimenting with the blend.
I crush the spices with a mortar and pestle before simmering them with the tea and milk. I put a tiny bit of rose tea to the blend, just wee bit. Add some sugar at the end and the result is warm, creamy, sweet, and spicy. It takes a bit longer than dropping a tea bag into a cup but it lifts me at a point in the day where I usually want to tune out. One could say it is the caffeine bump of the tea that makes the difference but I think it is more about welcoming
a bit a sensuality into the day.
4.
A huge
kindness I am learning to extend myself is allowing the huge creative mess I am. Creativity comes from mess and chaos. Then order. Then mess again. My art table most of the time:
It is exhausting trying to keep up with Instragm expectations of process.
5.
A blessing for your week:
(from Woodland Wardens by Jessica Roux)
May you find peace and flow in the currents of life.
