Visiting Saffron Walden with a dear friend yesterday gave me the chance
to see the familiar labyrinth with fresh eyes and an open heart.
We walk together
following the old pathways,
peace blows in the breeze.
Posted in Labyrinth, Perspectives, Poetry, Spiritual Practice, Women's Lives | 4 Comments »
Cooking fascinates me; to my mind it is one of the truly magical practices available to us mortals. A pinch a this and a dollop of that combine to make something that can nourish the body and delight the soul….. amazing!
One of my great joys is reading cookbooks, and I’ve recently rediscovered an old favourite, May All Be Fed: Diet for a New World, filled with familiar recipes for quirky vegan comfort foods… I’m such a California girl at heart! My update of Ginger Tea has been keeping the sniffles and snuffles at bay throughout this long, cold winter, and we’re going to keep drinking it through the next few weeks as we finally transition into our long-awaited springtime.
Ginger Tea
- 6 cups/1.5 liter water
- Big chunk fresh ginger, peeled & sliced
- Juice of large freshly squeezed lemon
- Honey to serve, preferably local, or stevia
- Bring the water and ginger to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Strain out the ginger pieces with a slotted spoon.
- Add honey or stevia to taste and serve hot or cold.
This concoction will boost your immune system as it warms the body and comforts the soul; what a wonderful way to see out winter’s last icy blast!
Posted in Cooking, Kitchen Alchemy, Recipes | 2 Comments »
New ideas poke up,
breaking through the icy crust
of my conscious mind,
brave thoughts,
still trembling
with the energy expended in flagging
my dozey attention.
I think of spring bulbs
struggling to brighten the garden,
still shivering beneath a snowy blanket.
My toes wiggle in their woolly socks
as I lean forward,
reaching to new beginnings.
Posted in Perspectives, Poetry | 9 Comments »
Joyous Jubilee,
Sixty years, a passing age,
Diamond-hearted love.
In 2005, I made the momentous decision to become a British citizen and to swear allegiance to Queen Elizabeth, something I am allowed to do without forfeiting my American citizenship and loyalty. I am proud to be an adopted daughter of Britannia, and felt blessed to take time this past weekend to appreciate the constancy and commitment of our Queen. And believe me… no one puts on a show like the Brits! Although we considered going into London to join in the festivities, the rather relentless rain kept us home where we enjoyed the extensive BBC coverage of the Jubilee in comfort and style… snapping photos of the television just for fun, and to give us some colorful memories.
Please visit the Friday rendezvous of the
haiku my heart community at recuerda mi corazon
Posted in Travel & Pilgrimage, Women's Lives | Tagged Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth | 8 Comments »
I’ve always believed that a garden is worthwhile primarily for the magic it harbours. Enjoying a cup of tea in the sunshine this week, admiring our garden’s sudden growth, I caught sight of a clan of dragons frolicking in my ferns. Only this one was willing to pose for the camera:
Spring dragons frolic
among fern fronds unfurling
mystical magic!
♦ ♦ ♦
Please visit the Friday rendezvous of the
haiku my heart community at recuerda mi corazon
Posted in haiku my heart, Perspectives | Tagged dragons | 14 Comments »
Shorelines laying bare
fishing boats kneel in the mud
the sea takes a breath
Living so close to the Thames estuary, the tides give rhythm to our days that we can see in the skies, the rivers, our lives…
Please visit the Friday rendezvous of the
haiku my heart community at recuerda mi corazon
Posted in haiku my heart, Photography | 10 Comments »
May is always a magical month, where winter’s dreams of warm sunshine and spring travels begin to come true. This year is shaping up as a summer of houseguests and homeland adventure, but we managed a quick trip over to the Continent to celebrate World Labyrinth Day with friends from our labyrinth community. Once abroad, who could resist the chance to indulge in an extra bit of European culture and gastronomie?
Sparked by an invitation for Jeff to speak at the Wereldmuseum in Rotterdam, we planned a rendezvous with our dear friend Lea Goode-Harris, literally picking her up at the airport on our way to catch the night ferry from Harwich to Hoek van Holland…. and it didn’t take long for the magic to start!
Lea and I hadn’t seen each other for six months, but had been in daily contact in that delightful way that technology affords. There is nothing like seeing a plan come together, though; first there were hugs, and then there were gifts, laced with the special magic that can only be sparked in the presence of a long and deep friendship and a uncanny sense of kinship:
A hand-painted silk scarf that exactly matched the salmon-y pink shoes I had only just purchased for the trip… How did she know? An amazing accessory for my first pair of post-boot shoes!
The perfect green-gold eyeliner, one that only a really close friend would know how to choose (perhaps reflecting the many hours we’ve spent together at cosmetic counters over the years).
And an Official Zentangle Kit of my very own!
Don’t know what that is? Prepare to be amazed!
In Harwich we feasted on freshly-caught fish and watched our Stena line ferry slide past the window as it came in to dock. Once checked-in and onboard, we reveled in the coziness of our sweet little cabins then headed to the bar for a celebratory drink before retiring for the night. It felt a bit like we were setting off on a mini-cruise, knowing we’d be on the other side of the North Sea by the time we awoke. If that’s not magic, I don’t know what is….
Posted in Perspectives, Travel & Pilgrimage, Women's Lives | 2 Comments »
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