Rose Cottage

 I know my Birthday Twin Gwynne would approve of this pre birthday tidy! (She takes our whole birth-month off for personal renewal!) Birthday flowers from Teresa  When you're working on dethugging, clearing clutter, reorganizing and tidying a space, do you go through an ugly duckling stage, where it looks worse rather than better?!  That's SO often happened to me! (And was my SOP as a kid - so disheartening!) A practice I've found helpful - especially  times I know I'm not likely to get back to the area for several days  (or weeks!)  - I factor in 20-30 minutes for a general regoup and tidy at the end!  This includes taking what I can out of the space (empty trash, and recycling,  take donations to the car...)  Redistributing things to their home, asking myself: - do I need/ want it? - Does it have a home? - Where would I look for it? And then - Consolidate things 'in process' to one wall or area, retaining the outtakes organization - V...

 This summer, a small group from our church read local author Randy Woodley's book, Becoming Rooted, a small book of daily reflections from an indigenous perspective.  At the end of our time together, we decided to seek out other books from native authors, and I found A Cherokee Book of Days (Joyce Sequichie Hifler).  Clematis Ville de Lyon   For October 20th, Joyce invites us to watch the season come on with peace, as da na li s da yu hu s gv - a feast for the soul.  'The island in the Mississippi are our gardens, where the Great Spirit caused berries, plums and other fruits to grow in abundance .... Black Hawk Last week, several from our group visited the lovely Chachalu  Museum and Cultural Center at the nearby Grand Ronde reservation, enjoying the exhibits and stories, with Alaskan native, Crystal as our guide.  The Yamhill Kalapooia called their valley Chachalu, place of the burnt timbers, from a wildfire that burned through the Grand Ronde Valley...

 For several years, I've enjoyed videos from a Japanese teacher Samurai Matcha (Aki-san). This week's offering on 7 Japanese habits  fits beautifully with my Reiki practice and good sense, and I grew up with many of them, in my rural Oregon home.  Hara Hachibi bun me  Respect and honor our ancestors - this is one of the Reiki principles, honor your parents and elders; Aki-san speaks of receiving the 'baton of Life' from our ancestors, to help us in our own lives! I grew up taking flowers to my grandparents' graves on Memorial Day, and hearing stories of their lives. Clean up public areas - pick up trash, leave things 'cleaner than you found them! In Oregon, private citizens 'adopt' sections of the highways and beaches, and do regular clean ups. Our Edible Landscaping group adopted the 6 block stretch along Alpine street where our raised gardens are located. My folks loved to camp, and again, cleaned up around the site before and after. Cities find that c...

 Rose cottage garden is growing beautifully, and (with good watering!) revelling in the heat.  Day Lilies I've been enjoying our book group conversations on the the daily reflections offered in local author Randy Woodley's book, Becoming Rooted . Each of the 100 brief chapters includes a story and inquiry or suggestion for implementation.  Today, whilst talking of chapter 40, Turning Tornados, I was reminded of an experience related by flower essence maker and practioner Molly Sheehan.  ( Green Hope Farm Essences  ).  During her visit to Ireland in 2005, she had a chat with the  elementals * shortly before she left, asking why they had been so supportive of her work. They replied , "We steady this planet. We steady our emerald island. Most often, we steady against the imprecations of humans, but we find in this project, humans working to steady the planet with us.   We thank you one and all for working with the Flower Essences and working to both ...

 I'm so grateful to love in this beautiful blue green planet! The first Earth Day celebration was a year after Neil Armstrong saw the earth from the moon - and watched it disappear behind his thumb, when he extended his arm! At that moment,  he realized everything and everyone who was important to him was on that marble!  This year, I was invited to do ASL sign for the songs of the McMinnville Women's Choir at an Earth Day event.  The celebration was sponsored by Zero Waste, and held at the Presbyterian church - which is one of a coalition of local churches with Climate Action groups. Edible Landscapes is an offshoot of Zero Waste, providing food and education to the wider community.  Earth Day Banners - Earth from the Moon The event is a reminder that we make choices that have an impact Every Day, and encourages us to make Greener choices.  Speakers included City Council member Sal Peralta, who reminded us that Zero Waste Oregon started with our McMinnvill...

 One of the simplest things you can do to welcome good fortune is spending a few minutes on your entrance and front door periodically!  My Purple Door Stand on your front walk, and look at your wall, porch and entrance Is the path clear and safe? (Opportunities flow) Is your address visible? (Can fortune find you?)  Greenery - are trees, shrubs and potted plants overgrown or in poor shape?  (Overgrown: too 'full' to receive more - dead branches or plants feel un-cared for) Is there clutter or trash? Is the porchlight in good working order? Doorbell? Does your door need a wash, or fresh coat of paint? If there's a mat, is it in good shape? Note anything that needs repaired, trimmed cleared or replaced.  When you're out and about, notice entrances and doors that appeal! Check out doors on Pinterest ( this board of Gwynne's has some lovely ones) When weather permits, go out for a 15-20 minute tidy! As I was preparing to sell my Galloway House, I did this frequentl...

  I'm excited - and a little nervous - to be cofacilitating this year's February Reset. We met (via zoom) last night, and will record our opening circle tomorrow.  The group description begins, 'creating conscious corners with our homes - think of this, what if your whole home was a sacred space?'   I love this focus! And have been joting down ideas, and putting my bits on the calendar.  Intentional Creativity invites us to begin by setting intentions - many of us will pull out a journal for notes and creative process!  Some inquiries to ask as we embark :  Why  do I want to dethug and reset? What  do I wish to create space for?  What  blocks my process/ progress?  Who  - what matters most to  me  about my space? Who  (what items) am I 'renting space' to - (do I like the 'tenants?' Would I invite them again?) When  - what time and energy can I devote to the process? How  - what strategies will I employ,...

 I'm looking forward to the February invitation to Resetting the space of your Living Altar,  which several friends from our Intentional Creativity community host. I'm also a bit nervous, as I've been invited on board to help facilitate the group this year! Red Thread A decade ago, our IC teacher  Shiloh  issued this invitation:   " I would love for you to finish your painting if you haven’t, and then to clean your studio. Reset your altars. Make new room for the sprouts to come up through the ashes. You need space and time to see what’s coming up and what wants to be shared and prepared for...." Whatever your space and projects, giving time and attention to a reset often inspires us, and gives access to new ideas and insights.  The Resetting group description reads,  "think of this, what if your whole home was a sacred space? Throughout February, (we) will lead a month of consciously clearing spaces in your home, and you're invited!"  While...

 The front door welcomes guests and opportunities, while our other entrances favor less direct opportunities - all need to be in good working order, clean and able to open fully.  Is there clutter on the other side? Are the path and steps clear and safe? Is the address clearly visible? If you use another door most of the time (garage), do you use the front door daily?  Buddha's Play House - cobb construction  Photo - John Holley In Feng Shui, the front door and the kitchen are two of the most important centers - the Mouth of Chi, and the heart of the home. In the mid 90s, I lived in a shared home at a mountain retreat center, and love the way our home welcomed all who came! Our front entrance faced the path through the staff cabins, but we generally entered through a little mud room on the side. This was especially important during the wet and snowy months! There's a row of coat hooks, and a built in bench with cubbies under for shoes, and a quick tidy was on our wee...