Yesterday, I met a friend for breakfast, and then we took a walk through downtown and the neighborhood. We both were struck by the beauty and uniqueness of this sign that is not uncommon to any of us. So, below are thoughts that came to mind in the form of haiku:
when children are near absorb their laughter, the joy flowing into you
snails teach with their wise leisure movements, taking in beautiful backdrops
slow down your travels do not let decades escape catalogue moments
pause in your footsteps regard life’s celebrations breathe in their fragrance
Light follows darkness like earth shadows the sun, but its timing, fickle unlike morning’s entrance each day. Thus, if gloom lurks within arm’s reach, keep courage nearby, for the great cheerleader of grit will spot that beam displaying hues so vivid, bursting with something larger than we can imagine and can’t exist without for a contented ride. It takes digging deep into the depths of our souls to unearth the chief spark of all notions, shimmering, welcomed… Hope.
Sometimes, we find ourselves walking in the wrong directionat a good clip, so preoccupied thatthe gapin the pavementtrips us, tumbling us in. Darkness seizes. Uncertaintyand fearjoin in the huddle.Our bodies paralyzed by fear’s powerful grasp.But thoughts penetrate in the depths of our minds, how strength has always been a constant in our lives where weakness only an acquaintance. So, with great mental bandwidth, our fingers grip eachlittle crevice of gloom like a seasoned rock climber. We move, inching upward, finding ourway out as darknessbegins to dim,andrays from the biggolden ball in the sky warm our shoulders. We revel in our accomplishment, never again underestimating our capabilities, as we joyfully hold the future in our hands.
Enjoy your weekend, Feel empowered, and a Big Thanks to all of you for reading, liking, and commenting throughout the years. Lauren Scott (c) ❤️ Strength photo: Google
It’s been so long since rain touched down in our region that we’ve forgotten what it sounds like when it falls in droves or when those raindrops touch the roof. But yesterday, we were reminded once again, and the sound was lovely. No wind, no storm, no messiness. Raindrops fell lightly and consistently, all day long, just the soft pitter patter soothing the flora. The blades of grass and blooms with their friendly faces that wish to brighten our days sighed with relief. They were immersed in droplets of hope, and so were we. This precipitation was a welcomed surprise just before Easter.
Today is Good Friday in the Christian religion: a day of commemorating Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. Thus, a day of grief, penance, and for some, a day of fasting. Then Easter follows on Sunday, a holiday for celebrating Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. On this day, I wish you an abundance of peace and comfort.
For Easter, I decided to do some baking, so I pulled the recipe card out of my recipe box for my mom’s sugar cut out cookies. I have wonderful memories of baking with her when I was a young girl. I continued that tradition with my daughter and son, but now that they live on their own, I bake solo. In the past, I’ve used Cross cookie cutters for Easter, but this time I bought some that are fun for both spring and Easter.
My faithful red hand mixer has treated me well, so no need for a giant mixer in my kitchen. Butter, white sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, and baking powder waited for their cue. Once the cookies were baked, I mixed up creamy buttercream frosting: more butter, powdered sugar, a little milk, and vanilla, and voila! So good! When the cookies were cool, I frosted them then I added colored sprinkles for decoration. Some bakers paint their cookies, but I like to sprinkle. And here’s what my kitchen looked like:
Bunnies, flowers, butterflies, and chicks! What more do we need, except, Love, Love, Love?! Oh, and do you see those white carrots with the green tops or fronds, as they are called? Well, I forgot orange sprinkles, so they turned into white carrots. Yes, white carrots do exist and they’re called, Arracacha, an Andean root vegetable. My son said that the carrot cookies look like feet. I didn’t see that then, but I can see it now. 🙂
I wish you a wonderful weekend ahead. And if you celebrate Easter, I wish you warmth for a wonderful day, and joy and rejuvenation this new season of spring brings.
Contrary to my poem on climate change a couple weeks ago, “The Effects”, I found a trail of spring on a recent morning walk. Even though we’re still in dire need of buckets of raindrops, the blooms I saw rejuvenated my steps. I felt inspired because of their beautiful representation of rebirth, exactly what this lovely new season is all about. They didn’t mind posing for a quick photo op, so would you like to join me for a second time around on the trail?
And now, a little more about Nature herself…
Her Offerings
Harmony lives in each flow of a breeze In each gentle embrace of evergreens The clear blue enchantingly shields Let nothing stay concealed.
Blooms tender their affable smile Leaves listen in for awhile Birdsong soothes the whirling mind A landscape perfectly designed.
Nature’s lessons are plentiful Shall our choices be flexible? We are not ignorant to her offerings Receive them for relief of suffering.
A painting of beauty and brilliance Mesmerizing even in distance Can you deny the splendid view? Allow serenity to fall into you.
(From my book, “More than Coffee:Memories in Verse and Prose”)
Life is like a package placed in our cupped hands, wrapped in festive paper, tied in matching ribbons we unravel first. Heartbeat increases from excitement of what we’ll find. We lift the lid, peek inside, but unlike paper, recyclable, the gift of life cannot be tossed back into the universe. No spare awaits on the sidelines. The contents require tenderness, but first lies a set of instructions unique to the recipient, as visible as a red rose in a garden of daisies. If those guidelines are followed with gratitude, bravery, and tenacity, the purpose of our gift, so delicately given, will come as naturally as the moon on a night, deeper than the deepest sea.
On Labor Day, my husband and I wanted to escape the heat, so we drove into West Marin to pick up sandwiches at our special deli. Then we headed for Taylor Park to picnic among the Redwoods where the air would feel a little more welcoming. We savored those delicious sandwiches to the last bite, chatted about life, read for a bit, then we strolled through the park, enjoying the sights and sounds. I hope you’ll join me as I reminisce…
Looking up to the majestic Redwoods from ourpicnic table. A view of the park.In the late 1800’s, this park was known as the resort, “Camp Taylor.”The old fish pond.Time to cool off in the creek! Be on the lookout! Don’t be fooled by the gorgeous fall colors. Poison Oak is toxic to humans, causing a very itchy rash. The old outdoor theatre. “Welcome, Everyone. Today we’ll learn about the nighttime animals that wander through the resort.”On the trailagain!Anybody home? The soft-looking texture of ferns.
And now I will leave you with this beautiful poem of mindfulness by Kaveri Patel:
Dear You,
You who always have so many things to do so many places to be your mind spinning like fan blades at high speed each moment always a blur because you’re never still.
I know you’re tired. I also know it’s not your fault. The constant brain-buzz is like a swarm of bees threatening to sting if you close your eyes. You’ve forgotten something again. You need to prepare for that or else. You should have done that differently.
What if you closed your eyes? Would the world fall apart without you? Or would your mind become the open sky flock of thoughts flying across the sunrise as you just watched and smiled.
Spending time in this tranquil park made us pause. We listened to birds chirping, children laughing, and the soothing babbles of the creek. I invite you to ponder these words of Kaveri Patel. Will you allow yourself to simply watch and smile? I will certainly try…
I stroll in the yard, dry as an arid desert. Drought drains most of life, but they persevere, soaking up occasional showers.
Follow their guidance, no surrendering, joy imparts effortlessly. Even through difficulties cause to celebrate sweeps in.
So much is happening in the world to feed anxiety. But there is also cause to feel the joy that nature offers and to learn from her messages. And the desire to celebrate always sweeps its way into our lives to help keep our minds balanced in order to move forward. For my husband and I, today we celebrate our beautiful daughter’s 30th birthday. 💞 Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, and one filled with joy and Cause to Celebrate!
Baydreamer ~ Lauren Scott 