A candle lit Christmas party with old family friends, the sort that are closer than family, in many ways.  We sang carols and told Christmas memories, and talked and laughed and ate.  It was a beautiful night, one I'll treasure in my heart for a long time.

Love, Clara

life going on

 Not sure why, but it felt good not to say anything.  Sometimes life is just like that.  Sometimes it's hard to keep ignoring the silent mental pressure to photograph everything and share everything, and so you just quit completely for an unexpected break.  At least that's what I did.  And maybe will keep doing.  I don't know, it's hard.  I like blogging, even though I have hardly any readers and even less comments, and even though I've been doing it for almost six years.  But it's kind of evolved into a place to pop my thoughts out one step further than a journal, and into a place where it can actually be read by others.  Crazy.

 I don't really even share thoughts here though, more just impressions, I think, and small little happenings.  I would still like to share what I make, but it's so darn hard to take photos of it, partly because I'm picky and partly because I'm forgetful.  But I am still knitting and sewing, and baking and reading.  And it's good.

 I want to get better at being content to have joy in the beauty of life.  I (like anyone) get so bogged down by the ugliness and cruelty and corruption that seems to find it's way into EVERYTHING, that I quit seeing the things that it's missed.  And I give in to the panic and the fear and the overwhelming depression of it all.  There's this quote though, that puts it well.

"I only deep the wound of the world when I neglect to give thanks for early light dappled through leaves and the heavy perfume of wild roses in early July and the song of crickets on humid nights and the rivers that run and the stars that rise and the rain that falls and all the good things that God gives.  Why would the world need more anger, more outrage?  How does it save the world to reject unabashed joy when it is joy that saves us?  Rejecting joy to stand solitary with the suffering doesn't rescue the suffering.  The converse does.  The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful are all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the here and now, they are the change agents who bring fullest light to all the world.  When we lay the soil of our hard lives open to the rain of grace and let joy penetrate our cracked and dry places, let joy soak into our broken skin and deep crevices, life grows.  How can this not be the best thing for the world?  For us?"  
                               - one thousand gifts by Ann Voskamp

 It's not exactly what I'm trying to get out, but very close.  It's just, let's laugh, and let's love what we have, even if there's evidence that it might not be here for long.  And let's soak in the beauty, not instead of fighting to save it, but let's look at it without the fear that it might not be here tomorrow, let's love today.

Love the sun over water, and the clouds as they gather.  Love the unforeseen adventures and the special food and new drinks to try.

And love the rainbows and the glitter shoes, and the cool wind and the beautiful drives.  And the special moments and messages that are just for you.  Because there's hope.  There is always hope.

Love, Clara

in between

In between the business it's good to save room for quiet, lovely, things.  The things that melt the stress, the things that steal you away and whisper magical stories into your ears.

Like a cup of tea...

Or stopping to search for mushrooms

(These ones looked like little meringues!)

And to notice precious moments like this.

And to make your own raspberry leaf tea.

meanwhile...

Working.  Which involves lots of walks, lots of stops to look at ants, and flowers, and cracks in sidewalks, and to do cartwheels, to adjust our bags, to pick up a stick, to tell a story, to call lock-down, to hold hands, to climb hills and balance on things, and really whatever else presents itself.  Bugs have been collected and bird nests found, books have been read and worksheets filled out.  We've been busy.  Me and the kids.

I love that we can take it slow, and smell flowers and turn cartwheels and walk backwards.  After this weekend, hopefully life can be more like that outside of work as well.  My friend is getting married and all of the preparation that goes into a wedding just blows my mind, it's exhausting.  We've got a bridal shower and the Bachlorette party on Friday, and then Saturday and Sunday full of preparation with the Wedding on Monday night.  So, as beautiful as it all is, I'll be glad when it's over and I can sleep and read a book and work on some of my own projects again.

 Love, Clara

mushroom hunting

It's hard to believe that this was already two weeks ago, time is going by so quickly.  I went morel mushrooming with a few of my amazing co-workers and a few of their friends, before they invited me I didn't even know that morels grew up here.  But apparently they are pretty prolific!  I've always thought of foraging as more of a late summer/fall thing.  I mean I knew from the books I've read that there are certainly things to harvest in the spring and early summer, but I'd just never given it a try.  So when I was invited I jumped at the chance.

And even though it was after one of the longest days I'd had in ages, it was absolutely worth it, and I'd do it again in a heart beat.  (hopefully I can soon!)  It was a beautiful evening, albeit mosquito infested, which is why I only got a few pictures.  My hands would be coated with the little buggers the moment I held them still enough to take a picture!  But really the whole experience was beautiful enough to make the constant buzzing not much of problem.

One of the girls I went with is getting her masters in mycology, so naturally I pestered her with questions, that she thankfully seemed happy to answer.  She is the one who wove that fantastic basket above for her mushrooms! I'm still in awe.  It's been busy times for me of late, but thanks to a new knitting project and chocolate and some good reads I'm making it.  It's been raining a lot lately, which I've enjoyed so much.  It helps me take it slower, I think.  May blessings find you through the rest of your week!

Love, Clara

Dandelions

A week ago last Saturday I spent the morning sitting in the grass picking dandelions and watching bees.  It was about as perfect as a morning can be.  In this busy life I've found it to be incredibly healing to take the time to watch and wonder.  To watch the bee probing for nectar, to notice how some have black abdomens and others are more golden, to see their feet collect pollen, and marvel at how quickly they beat their wings.   To let time melt away, and to allow myself to just observe and study, to embrace the curiosity rather than rush on to more "important" things.  So, I watched bees.  For maybe an hour?  I don't even know.  But it was wonderful.  I know that.

So, dandelions.  Our yard is full of them.  I harvested barely a fraction, and filled a huge pickle jar for sun dying and also had enough to make two loafs of dandelion bread (which was really good!).  And my mother was digging up the roots for roasted dandelion root tea while I was picking heads.  I also am experimenting with using blueberries for sun dying.  We'll see how it goes.

More there will be more foraging posts coming soon!

Love, Clara