Rebecca Sower

pulling it all together

I'm still in August.  It isn't fair that it's September already.  That means I have to start pulling everything together for the Creative Connection event next week.  Wow, next week, really?

Actually, I've been so excited/nervous about taking the handcrafts made by my Haitian girls that I've sorta lost focus on my own work.  But here I go anyway.  It will all work out just fine, as it always does.

I couldn't decide whether to post a pic or two a day to give you a peek at some of the items I'm taking.  Then decided, nah let's just throw it all out there.

As you've come to expect from me, a lot of words and sentiments in my work.

Because really that's all it takes sometimes, isn't it?  Just a word...

A word to inspire, to encourage, to soothe, to get us up out of that chair and get us going.

And if it's a reminder that's hanging on our wrist or our wall, well all the better spoken.

And so now my word must be 'go'.  So much still to do.

If you are going to be in Minneapolis next week please let me know, I'll keep an eye out for you.

Now I'll leave you with some of the best words I know...

"Be glad of life"

{ henry van dyke }

 

what i love best...

about fall.

(1) pumpkins straight from the field, like these brought over yesterday from the neighbor farm's teenage son.  Great little business he's got going there (okay, I liked it better when their farmhand came by and told me to go get some pumpkins).  And colors, so happy-orange, that still haven't been matched by any paints, pigments or dyes that I've seen.

(2) that golden hour, sometime around 5pm here, when the sun stretches her rays over the land for one last warm hug before saying good-night.

(3) a steamy hot pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks...one of life's little luxuries.  had my first one of the season yesterday, the first of many.

(4) this is the first fall we've had our hens, but I know a new fall favorite will be watching these silly girls scurry about in the late afternoon catching their last little bug snacks while the light's still good.

(5)  wide open windows, after a long sticky summer, feel like heaven.

oh well, that's enough from me.  what about you?  what do you love about the changing of the season?

old dogs love rain and i love old dogs

A healing rain has fallen on us for two days now.

Looked out this morning and saw old Otto just sitting and letting it soak in.

Much like I did late last night...went down by the barn, out by the pastures and let it rain down on me until I was soaked through...and healed.  Something we can do out in the country without any neighbors thinking we've finally snapped.  Only the neighbors' cows saw me...and looked just long enough to question why we humans don't do these things more often.

Oh that I could send a wind carrying my rains to the dear people in Southern California...my prayers and heart reach for you.

Will leave you with a quote from one of my all-time heroes, Mr. Fred Rogers...

"How many times have you noticed that it's the little quiet moments in the midst of life that seem to give the rest extra-special meaning?"

pick one

of these to do today and savor the raw beauty and simplicity of the process...

{*} watch the sunrise or the sunset...really watch it happen

{*} find a 4-leaf clover

{*} walk barefoot in the grass and focus on how good it feels

{*} eat a popsicle

{*} chase a butterfly as it flutters by

{*} lie on your back in the grass and watch the stars

{*} wade in an icy cold creek

{*} twirl around in a swirly skirt

{*} make a clover chain necklace and wear it

{*} climb up into the branches of an old tree

{*} skip to the mailbox and don't worry about who's watching

No, don't call the kids to do these things with you.  It's time to get out there and go solo.  I'll be here waiting for you to report back to me!  :)