It’s been quite a while since I played in Three Things Thursday, the weekly invitation created by Emily at Nerd in the Brain and hosted by Natalie at There She Goes, to share three things that made us smile this week. Gratitude and appreciation are always uplfiting energies, and who doesn’t need more of that?
First up, a friend gifted me with a fabulous little piece by ceramic artist Sue Tirrell.
It’s a white buffalo, and the minute I knew that I got all tingly. The story and symbolism of White Buffalo is important to all the Plains tribes, but particularly the Lakota Sioux peoples. And somehow I know this beauty is here to bring me some messages, besides brightening my heart. I can’t wait to see what unfolds.
This week was the final gathering of a bouquet of my lilacs. The season is always too short for me, but this year especially. Between our unseasonable cool and more than normal rain it seems like they bloomed and faded in record time.
As I took the last deep inhale of those fragrant blooms, I realized I literally need to stop and smell the flowers more often. Particularly now, particularly this year, when everything seems so speeded up and compressed. This is precisely when those moments of breathing and noticing and awareness both important and exponentially nourishing.
It didn’t occur to me until just then that I’d forgotten all about the National Phenology Network which is dedicated to monitoring the impact of climate change on plants and animals in the U.S.A. You can participate as an observer in your area. I meant for that to be one of my projects beginning this Spring. Alas, I’ll be starting later than I imagined. Still, I look forward to being a dedicated observer. And while my lilacs are through blooming for now, my peonies are showing the first tiny buds. I can’t wait for their frilly fabulous to unfold!
My third joy is today is a new moon, and I’m up for celebrating it. A new cycle unfolds. It’s a time to vision, intend, plant seeds – all things I love. By the time this moon waxes into fullness she’ll be called the full Strawberry Moon, or perhaps Full Rose Moon, or any number of other wonderful names.
Just like those peony buds, beautiful as they are now, hold the potential to unfold into frilly blossoms in the future, and the dark/new moon will eventually become full and then waning, I’m looking forward to a month where all manner of wonderful things occurs. And it’s my intention to slow down and pay attention, and truly appreciate it all.
What about you? What 3 things are making you smile? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Love that plate! I’ve been seeing lots of flowers on my walks around our neighborhood and trying to really pay attention to the things I just usually pass by without noticing.
Good for you Janet. It’s funny how paying attention really shifts things – it’s like time somehow opens up in new ways. As though the path you’ve always walked and never paid attention to suddenly has a little magical door you travel through to see things you’ve never seen before.
Lovely post, thank you for sharing 🙂 I love lilacs!
Thanks for hosting TTT, and for stopping by Natalie.