rambling

First of all something I've been meaning to say for a while now:
Has anyone ever noticed how spring seems to have a theme every year? Like there seems to be more of one kind of plant or animal than any other? The first year I noticed this it was daisies. They were absolutely everywhere. Every road side was lined with them. They were springing up in yards and ditches and medians. Absolutely everywhere. Then it was butterflies. Big, small, plain, fancy. Butterflies flitting about everywhere, in neighborhoods, on the highway, at the park. Butterflies galore! This year, birds. Birds singing, birds courting, birds building nests. Robins, finches, wrens, woodpeckers, cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, bluebirds, geese, birds I've never seen before. The birds are absolutely everywhere! Am I the only one who has noticed this?

Second, something I've thought of:
Oftentimes my response to someone ribbing me (taking the mick out of me or teasing me or having a laugh at my expense) is an explanation of the way I see things. I do this because I'm not always a very witty person and I'm usually not quick on the draw for smart comebacks. But what I've realized is that when I do this British people think they have "wound me up." So, what's a girl to do?

Third, I've been listening to Radio Theatre's Little Women. I'm a third of the way through my second listen and I continually find myself crying while I listen. And I don't know why. It's a puzzle. But I do love it. (Little Women that is, not the crying.)

Fourth, yesterday I spent six hours at the pottery studio. I was glazing the entire time. We'll see what comes out of the kiln... could be scary!

I guess that's all.

things that make me smile

*sheets that smell as if they've just come out of the wash
*creative descriptions like, "the air felt like milk"
*music that is slow and soft without being melancholy
*finding clothes that have been packed away for a while
*my dad's grilled chicken
*little girls' enthusiastic love
*czech chocolate
*trying to listen to multiple conversations all happening in the same room at the same time
*puppies that will grow up to be guide dogs playing with other passengers at airports
*daisies painted on hand-thrown mugs from Prague

a fresh, new start

Coming home is always such a wonderful feeling. I had a lovely time in Scotland with Kirstin and her family. Kirstin was/is still recovering from an ugly episode with some mussels so it wasn't a very activity packed holiday. Most days were spent pottering about the house, reading, watching tv, cooking, and eating. We still managed to have quite a bit of fun! Coming home was an exercise in patience. Riding on a bus for 12 hours is bad enough at night, positive torture during the day. But it's over now and all is well. All of the old things are washed and put in their proper places and all of the new things are making my room look very cheery and warm. I've caught up on emails, facebook comments, and myspace messages. I have a day to get ready for the new term tomorrow and then Monday whooshes us away for a retreat to kick of the second term of Transit, Kind to Others.

In this new season I've decided my focus will be paying attention. Being attentive to God, others, myself, the world around me. Just generally being aware. I have such a tendency to retreat inwardly and create these beautiful worlds of pure fancy; this year I want to live in the present, hopefully to bring some of those dreams into reality. Lord, please help me.