Mom comes to Crickhollow

Yesterday, Harriet, my Atlanta sister-in-law, and my 90 year old mother came for lunch in the country.  It was a good visit stretching from lunchtime until evening with time spent in the garden admiring the herbs and flowers and ignoring the weeds.  Mom is pretty sharp for a nonagenarian.  She wants one of everything for her garden when I get ready to dig up and split some of my plants and she was fascinated by the moonflower vine.  We chatted in front of the fire sipping wine and eating pie until the light began to fade, discussing our histories, our relatives, Sunday's sermons in our churches, and what was coming up for us next.  After they left for Mom's home I sat outside watching the waxing gibbous moon rise over the trees and waited for my darling husband.  As I watched, I saw his truck move very slowly down the drive, occasionally stopping.  When he finally parked beside the house he explained that a very large red fox had been walking in front of him all the way down the drive.  When he neared the house the fox turned and looked at him then slipped into the forest.  He reckoned that what I thought was a young cougar was actually this large red fox.  Maybe...or maybe it is a shapechanger.  The Cherokee, from whose people I claim some of my genetic makeup, believed that the fox brought healing.  As I continue to find limitations in my stamina I am glad to have been blessed with the presence of a fox.

Bovine Blues

Keeping Sabbath at Crickhollow takes many forms for me.  Knitting by a fire, cooking some slow food, swimming, gardening, walking in the woods, or just sitting outside with a glass of wine are all ways of keeping Sabbath, because these solitary moments open me up to the presence of God.  I woke up on Friday morning to a sound in the distance that took me back to the Chicago El (no, not the God of Chicago, but their public transport train system).  There was often a man under the tracks playing his saxaphone.  He would play marvelous jazzy bluesy music that always brought a smile to my face as I walked from the EL station.  With my eyes closed I snuggled down in the covers and listened to the distant music, when I realized it was cattle bellowing somewhere off beyond the woods.  These cows were pretty good at their mournful music.  A little later I sat outside with my morning coffee listening to the music of life around me, birds singing, woodpeckers laughing, dogs barking, and the mournful background of Bovine Blues.

Crickhollow Retreat

The herb lady came to Crickhollow for a 24 hour retreat.  She helped me harvest herbs and hang them in between meditation and reading.  While picking herbs we discovered a beautiful zipper spider on the dining room window.  It was a time of listening to birdsong, watching lizards, sharing food and dreams, enjoying fire, water, earth, and clean crisp air.  

Watermelon Rind Pickles

I always feel so frugal when I make these crisp little pickles.  Using the part of the watermelon that usually goes into a landfill or at best into a compost bin satisfies my soul.  And they are like candy: sweet, tart, and delicious!  When their lids go "pop" it is one of my favorite tunes.  As I work on them I pray for the folks on my prayer list, especially my daughter Stefanie who is in the hospital right now 850 miles away.  She will be OK, but I still worry and pray.  Stef and I used to make gallons of apple butter together when we lived close.  I especially miss her when the canning kettle comes out.  We connect by phone, facebook and blogs and keep up with what's up with kids, what's on the stove, and what's on the needles/hook.  It's not the same as being together, but it is the best we can do right now.

On The Needles (OTN)

I am working on the Long Stitch Wrap from Lacy Little Knits by Iris Schreier worked in Schmutzerella Yarns Blinky, Inky, Pinky, and Clyde, a gift of yarn from my DD Stefanie.  I LOVE the colors.  They just scream “fiesta time”.  I may not have enough yarn, so I think I will begin working the two front parts of the wrap at the same time.  I will have a cool neck scarf if there isn’t enough for the shrug. :)

Supposing him to be the gardener...

Today began with tea and ended with wine at Beth's house.  Beth is a woman full of spirit.  She is an amazing gardener, something I really respect.  After all, one of God's first creations was a garden, and of course Mary, supposing him to be the gardener....  Beth also interprets dreams and hears and understands what I don't say when I am talking.  We sat on her porch surrounded by plants, hummingbirds, butterflies, goldfinches and the sounds of summer insects in the trees.  It was like being surrounded by Eden.  Thank you God for the gift of Beth in my life and the gift of sitting outside on a beautiful summer day.

Crickhollow Sabbath

We arrived Sunday afternoon having had a wonderful Sunday morning.  I actually made it through the entire service.  My strength returns a little more every day.   The silence here is wonderful.  Mieke alerted us to a young mountain lion in the driveway.  She was sleek and beautiful and wondered at the invaders in the glass house.  Sunday night Shireen and I went out to watch the Perseids.  There were not a lot of meteors before the sky hazed over, but we saw one very large impressive one, and several small.  It was enjoyable just sitting out in the dark and listening to the night sounds of the country.  Monday morning was cooler than it has been in months.  Bob and Shireen left for work and school and I settled into Sabbath enjoying the cool morning and a cup of tea.  Sleep helped my recovery throughout the day with naps, and I finished off my Sabbath with water prayer in our little endless pool and soaking in a hot tub.  Heavenly!