Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Grace in Small Things #Thirty-Four


So far, I'm still cooking over at Grace in Small Things. There's something about noting five teeny tiny things a day that make you happy. Noting compels you to notice.

1. My shift at the help desk at the y. Assisting others is always upwardly mobile. Even a snippy customer pushes my growth.
2. Juan, the head yard dude, mowing and cutting and mulching and prettifying. I hope I get to keep him.
3. Opening ups packages
4. Co-worker greetings
5. Familiarity, not the "breeds contempt" kind, the loving kind: my bent paged journal, friends familiar with my tics, pets familiar with my habits, etc.

Mulling over others' GiST lists is a' whole 'nother joy. Check it out.


Read more: "Schmutzie.com: Grace In Small Things: A Challenge For All Of Us" -http://www.schmutzie.com/2008/11/grace-in-small-things.html#ixzz0AgHE3JMQ



Tuesday, March 10, 2009

One Prayer


I am of the family of the universe, and with all of us together I do not fear being alone; I can reach out and touch a rock or a hand or dip my feet in water. Always there is some body close by, and when I speak I am answered by a plane's roar or the bird's whistling or the voices of others in conversation far apart from me. When I lie down to sleep, I am in the company of the dark and the stars.

Breathe to me, sheep in the meadow. Sun and moon, I smile at you both and spread my arms in affection and lay myself down at full length for the earth to know I love it too and am never to be separated from it. In no way shall death part us.

--David Ignatow

from Earth Prayers from around the World edited by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Snow & Beans in Carolina

I know a lot of folks living here aren't from around here - and y'all have a big time when the locals get all excited at the mention of a little snow. I don't mind. Everybody seems silly to somebody over something sometime.

The truth for me is that I AM excited at the mention of a little snow. This morning while my coffee was perking I put a pound of pinto beans out to soak, humming a Hank Williams' song, one of my Aunt Pearl's favorites, and I can still hear her tuneless warbling - why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart? A really good question, but this morning there were bigger fish to fry, or at least beans to soak.


I bought smoked pigs knuckles at the Harris Teeter Friday, wondering all the while if I'd completely lost my mind or just found a particular brand of sane. My daughter retched a little when she saw what was in the grocery bag, but she always was delicate when it comes to animal parts, and I was listening to a Higher Voice anyway - the one that whispers - snow. Snow. It. Might. Snow. Put a pot of beans on, 'cause it might snow.

I simmered and stirred all Saturday evening, adding onions and salt and whatever else Aunt Pearl's voice in my ear said. I surprised myself and her with a near perfect round of cornbread baked in her iron skillet from ingredients I had in my cabinet.

I've got a pot of pinto beans cooked. Calling for snow. Why can't I free your doubtful mind, and melt your cold cold heart?



--Caroline Boatright


Photos: snow dog by Christmas w/a K on Flickr
tulips by Alan1954 on Flickr