Busha Full Of Grace

Shannon Mama

'Nough Said.

Another UFO Sighting

Unfinished object. Knitting.

Way back in June of "last" year, I was at Donner Lake, remember? And I posted the baby altar for Shannon's baby.send out a prayer And since then, life has gone on, Shannon has grown a big belly AND chosen new patterns to be knit. But I need to keep my word to this little one. So last night, out the sweater came. I sat up in bed, just where I wanted to be since I was hacking with bronchitis, and surveyed the sweater. I finished the body and decided to rip out the front lace panel and begin again. Once again, the needles were too big and the stitches looked sloppy to me. (Hmmmm...what does that tell me? Perhaps I'm a loose knitter? Ahem. Sometimes I take awhile to think logically when I'm in artistic mode. Years even.) ANYWAY....I'm working on the sweater, and my health, so that we may both be complete for the arrival of our little baby.

The pattern can be found here jimmy beans wool under the free pattern for April 2007.

And one more beautiful thing, my Amarylis bloomed again. What an amazing flower. Here it is at school before the holidays:

And here it is, It's second coming, in my dining room:

I think I'm so focused on this flower this morning because this beauty has me thinking about some words Deepak Chopra spoke last night on a PBS show I was listening to while I was knitting. While speaking about fear, he was making reference to the idea that most of us live in the fear of our own mortality, our own impermanence. This basic fear permeates our entire ego existence. He went on to say that once we realize the beauty of impermanence we will find joy. He then made an amazingly simple analogy that really spoke to me. He compared a plastic rose to a real rose, and asked us to consider the feeling each one elicited within; or a plastic apple to a real apple? Permanence is far less appealing to the soul. Impermanence is alive and full of possibility. It must be celebrated in the moment. It is to be enjoyed and lived.

A compelling thought for today. Happy Sunday. Happy Three Kings Day. Happy Epiphany.

Peace In The New Year

UPDATE: The spoons were purchased at a culinary store in downtown Sonoma called "The Robin's Nest".

We've talked often about daughter Brooke's "cooking with loving intention". So inspired, I bought each family household a New Year's gift; a wooden spoon carved from an olive branch. Now their meals will not only be infused with love, but peace as well.

Storm Update From Sonoma, California

I know it's all over the news and the weather channel, so here was my trip down stormy lane yesterday...I was getting sick and needed to go to the doctors. So out I went. It was pretty dark and my camera isn't fancy, so you might want to click on the photos (which you can always do ion my blog) to see them better.

The first photo is the run off from the pipe under the road into the creek. The second is the creek under the bridge in Boyes Hot Springs:

For you, Alex...the pigeons at the gas station (you who marvels that it is the ONLY pigeon roosting place in all of Sonoma)

At 4pm I went to Pharmaca to get some remedies for my bronchitis. As I was leaving, the SUN was peeking through the clouds for a brief moment, onto the stained glass window of the church across the street, where we buried my dad.

Yes, inspiration. Glorious inspiration. Hallelujah. I missed him. I remembered I had some winter branches and pine cones in the back of my car for his grave. I sent this beautiful light and my prayers together for him; missing him, loving him, grateful for all that he was/is to me. I went to the cemetery and spent sometime. Stayed until it was dark. And then as I drove home, I noticed the little roadside gully by depot Park, also full of raging and deep water.

Ominous at the roots of the Eucalyptus, which is not indigenous to our area. I've heard that when the roots get saturated, they are so shallow the trees come tumbling down. Actually, I've seen it happen. The home of my first memories was surrounded with Eucalyptus trees that created my natural playground. I prayed for this tree too. May it stand for evermore. Through rain and winds and future parking lots.

California Stormy Post

Oh boy are the rains and wind ferocious outside my cozy cave. It's dark. It's 9:30 in the morning and it's dark. It's been going on for 24 hours now. Satchel spent the night Wednesday and we had plans for an outing yesterday. But we were both just as content to stay indoors together. First thing, my "broken" television Christmas magic was about to end. You see, my tv is "broken". BUT, when it is Christmas time, there is a special magic that lives in my home until the tree comes down. It allows us to watch Christmas movies. We hadn't yet been able to do that because we have been so busy. Since I decided to leave my tree up through the Holy Nights, Satch and I were able to watch Babes In Toyland together. As well as play some games:

and learn how to draw stars:

After lunch Satchel wanted to play in a warm bath, which he did for quite sometime. All clean and toasty and cozy, he laid on the love seat with a pillow and blanket while I sat in my chair and knitted. The house was rainy dark, and the only light was from my reading lamp and the colorful glow of the tree. I was listening to some nice Windham Hill CD.

1:30:

"That's Buuuuetiful music, Busha."

"I'm not going to sleep Busha. When the music is done we'll get up, ok?"

1:32:

"Is it a storm? Can I look?"

1:33

"Yep. A storm out there."

Back to snuggle in his blanket. Sweet smile of comfort.

1:36

The heavy, even breath of little boy sleep keeping time with the music. And thus, I was able to finish his "rainbow" socks.

Camille had some friends over Wednesday night too. I love that they hang out here. They played with her new photo program on her computer and hung photos on her walls.

Home is a wonderful place to be.

New Year's Hodge Podge

I wasn't very good with my camera the past couple of days. Zak did do a cheerful greeting on my smaller version of Brooke's chalkboard that lives in the central hallway of my home.

The party was lovely. This home is amazing (John Lassiter of Pixar Pictures is their neighbor, duh), and the folks who hosted the party are welcoming people. Warm. Inviting. It was catered and the house was cozy with candles and crackling fires.

Most folks were in the kitchen and family room, but for awhile we hung out in the "conservatory" (with Captain Mustard), studying, in awe, the recent artwork.

Really, this room was something. It was in the process of having a mural of the sky (with the exact constellations as you would see them if there was no roof) painted on the ceiling. Surrounding the sky are faux painted wooden beams and there will soon be painted leaded glass between the beams. I wish I could have photographed it, but felt like that would have been kind of tacky. :) Trust me, it was glorious in its Maxfield Parrish blue.

Someone played the piano and people sang. Satchel had a blast with the older yet younger girls who lived there. And as always, he was dressed to the max and as handsome as a little prince.

Brooke and Matt

Heather and Zak

Harry, licking his chops, salivating for the Lincoln Logs when we leave:

Yesterday morning the girls, (Brooke, Shannon, Camille and I) and Satchel and Ike, all went out to breakfast.

Shannon is so close to her due date, she wonders if "THIS" is going to be that last meal that she ends up barfing up. :) That's Shannon for you.

It was a long, long, long, long wait to be seated.

Then the boys came to play at Busha's house and I knitted a little angora and boucle merino baby hat....

while dreaming of the silky sweet fragrance that will soon fill it.