4 Works In Progress

It's one of my mom's frequent observations, that we are all works in progress. My grandmother, too, taught me that we are always growing, always learning lessons, striving to achieve goals, mend our missteps. With their wisdom, the kind words of Jennifer and Val, the company of friends, and more painting (my therapy and meditation, which like writing, crochet, and photography, I seem to have adopted, almost, compulsively,) I found a bit of breathing room, felt encouragement, redoubled my resolve (again!) Thank you, friends. I filled in some gaps, and made more progress, and that is, I suppose, all we can do, sometimes... start, pause, move forward, step back, inhale, release, learn, strive, and find ways to fill in the gaps. I strongly recommend the company of friends, taking in kind words, and finding ways of meditating.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

3 Filling In

So far, I've ruined two pair of pants with paint spills, and clumsy mishaps. It would be the one pair of jeans without a hole in the knee. But writing all that is just to fill in the awkward silence, the hollow feeling after long days, and uncertainty. I am vague, I know. It's only that being sad never reads well, and phone calls drop out, fail. There are so many things broken, that I cannot mend. Distances I cannot bridge. Maybe painting isn't for me, after all. Maybe I need the warmth and comfort of yarn... row after row of shells, to wrap around and hold me together, bigger, to share.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

2 Wood and Sheets and Plans

Another supply run, for another plan. Alex and William are helping me make the prototype for a child's tent... something simple that we can teach, share. It seems like a good idea to get back to the things that move us forward, give us focus, help us connect. It's a maker thing, because I believe in making, and sharing. We are A Nation of Makers. #nationofmakers

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

1 The Fog Wants In

Those long spells of real wintery weather, and record-breaking rain, came to a halt, and then, suddenly, it was like late spring, again. Warm, sunny, dry. Birds twitterpated. Thoughts of picnics, sun hats, ideal summer days. And then it switched, once more, and we woke to heavy fog... it clung to the screen and tried to get into the porch. Pretty droplets shimmering in the faint morning light. Typical California winter... we cannot claim to be bored, something new is always around the corner.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

31 Winter in the School Garden

The borage is luminous in the winter light. All those days of rain, have brought tremendous growth to our California gardens, and Maria's school garden is more lush and enticing than ever. The Junior Master Gardeners finally caught a break between storms, so they could meet in the garden, and do what they do best... learn, share, tend the beds, make improvements, and make plans.

Karen and Maria, going over a few of the projects Maria has completed in the course book. Maria participates in a lot of extracurricular programs that she enjoys, but JMG is sacrosanct! We are both thankful for the opportunities she relishes in the program, especially as it means time spent with her lifelong friend, Mrs Snacky.

Large leaf basil seeds.

Blossoms of the fava beans.

While the JMG crew sowed seeds for the plant sale, and discussed more plans for summer and fall garden beds, I went around taking pictures of the winter beds... the chard, the peas, the wildly successful fava bean plants. Then I tucked myself into a spot beside the nasturtiums and began pulling weeds, which are plentiful, too, after all of the rain. I was alone with my thoughts, happy ones, because I enjoy the meditation in weed pulling. Such contentment, serenity... it was absorbing, which is probably why it took me so long to finally realize that I was not actually alone!

Only a few feet away, curled up like a ball of sunshine, Garden Cat, the sage fellow. He did not mind me one bit. He doesn't seem to mind much of anything, which is nice. Birds, children, peas and gnomes are his friends. We cannot ask the mice what they think, because no one has seen any in quite some time. He snoozed, contentedly, and I pulled weeds, in the same happy frame of mind.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

30 Té Con Pan

Make mine manzanilla.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

29 Dear Tasha

My Dear Tasha,
You are one of many joys that make life worthwhile. From the tips of your pert, alert ears, to the end of your happy tail, you are a fit and frolicsome ungulate. Your steady gaze is both beguiling, and bemusing. Your manners are disarming... you afford no false pretense, malice, nor conceit. Your beard is resplendent. You rarely raise your voice, and your temperament is equally calm, considerate. It's fun to brush you, to bring you favorite treats... carrot tops, kale, the occasional piece of black licorice, a nice clump of wild fennel. Thank you, Tasha Tudor Goat, for occupying my thoughts with amusements and gratitude, for looking at me, just as you do, and reminding me of the best and silliest pleasure in a day.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.