sunday grace: forest story

the forests of the blue ridge mountains are beyond beautiful in any season.

but there is something about that first crisp autumn weekend, when the leaves are just barely beginning to turn and still mostly clinging on to the tree, that lures us into the woods in search of the magic and healing that only nature can give.

the green is greener here.

a few steps off the path the forest's understory is soft and deep.

that light, delivered in radiant beams or feathery dapples, is otherwordly.

shedding our real world armor and reflecting the space, we are kind, quiet, open, lush.

we are small.

and marvel at the smaller.

we are happy and content in the forest's inherent balance of risk and play, folly and groundedness.

or to just be still and stare in wonder and delight without rush or pressure.

absolved and restored.

with permission to be easy and vibrant and tender in a hard grey world.

gratitude.  offering.  commitment, to each other and our magnificent world.

"the clearest way into the universe is through the forest wilderness."

{john muir}

a week in color {№13}

full disclosure:  it's more like "a month in color".  i've been a bit lax on the color capturing these last few weeks.

living it, just not photographing it as much.

we hung a new light fixture in the dining room.  it's ginormous.  like a bright sun we orbit.

when i am in another town/city for work, i make a point to explore and experience.  otherwise i would die a slow painful death by hampton inn beige boredom. a recent discovery was a little shop that specializes in tibetan singing bowls and handmade bits from that region.

i've wanted a rolleiflex camera forever.  here she is!  she needs a bit of adjusting but i love her.

the color at the flower farm refuses to wind down.  they are still cranking out summer over there.

luca and i have done a pretty decent job at being consistent with our morning walks.  luca does not like to stop and take photos.  i have about 800 shots of his butt.

there he is!  goof.

i received alena's new book this week and it is amazing!  i'm super excited that i get to take class with her later this month at serendipity.

i made my own toothpaste you guys.  it's nontoxic, whitening and remineralizing.  it's not pretty.  but it's also not poisonous.

after some tweaking, here's the final recipe:

• 1/3 cup unrefined coconut oil, softened
• 4 tsp. dr. bronner's castille soap (i used peppermint)
• 1 tbsp. organic baking soda
• 1 tbsp. bentonite clay
• 1/4 tsp. liquid stevia (adjust to desired sweetness)
• 10-12 drips essential oil (i used 8 drops of clove oil and 4 drops of lemon)

mix all the ingredients in a glass container.  do not use metal utencils with the clay.  (in this incarnation, the clay acts primarily as a remineralizer, but it also pulls heavy metal toxins from your body.  when you expose it to metal utencils/containers, it lessens it's magnetic pull.)  you can dip your toothbrush in the paste or use a clean finger to swipe out the paste before brushing.

speaking of bentonite clay, i've been bathing in it and drinking it too.  a holistic health friend recommended both to detox and revive my sluggish lymphatic system.  dry-brushing, yoga and the daily walks are also a big part of this endeavor.

i love pumpkins but the whole pumpkin-spice EVERYTHING is depressing me (i even saw an instagram the other day of a pumpkin spice condom package).  the true flavor of autumn for me is a sliced honeycrisp apple with a smear of goat cheese.

this amazing creature was in my garden yesterday.  i love a woolyworm with a mohawk.

in the soul kitchen, we are looking forward to two seasons of soup and stews, but we want to squeeze all the flavor out of this indian summer that we can.  israeli salad is a gorgeous mix of colorful chopped veggies.

and finally, there was a wee backyard picnic at the equinox.  here's to a beautiful october.

be the soul

wherever you stand, be the soul of that place.

{rumi}

(beautiful unknown hoop dancer at this year's floyd yoga jam)

sunday grace

this is my grace space.  the anne spencer house and garden in lynchburg.  the air is infused with color, spirit, courage, poetry, art, love and light.  you can feel her here.

"let me know now where beauty is.  i was born to know her mysteries."
{anne spencer}

a few words for autumn

find that flame,
that existence,
that wonderful woman
who can burn beneath the water.

{hafiz}

some days are not my favorite color

some days are rust.

on rusty days you just can't conjure the positive spin.

on rusty days the people you count on to be present and loving are exhausted by you.

on rusty days the people you count on to be present and loving are just not.  they are having their own rusty day.

on rusty days words sting stingier than usual.

on rusty days words seep into your bloodstream and sting every time they circulate through your heart.

on rusty days you want to blog about grace and forgiveness but you can't seem to pull them out of the air.

and your heart is too busy filtering the stingy words to help out.

some rusty days it's just about the planets.

some rusty days it's more about choices.

on rusty days it helps to have a wire fox terrier who is pretty much the kindest human on earth.

who sits with you in all the rusty emotions.

and reminds you of turquoise.