Happy Solstice

The grey Oregon sky might have belied it, but Monday was the summer solstice. The summer picnics and bonfires in my head never made it out of the cerebral planning stages, but I did manage to make it out for the flowers that now decorate my living room. There was also spinach, tomatoes and peppers and a lemon tart for after dinner, but no one was hungry enough to eat them that night. We are lucky to live in place with so much abundance that we can skip a meal and not miss it.

And in the grey, the garden is a riot of color and sound. Birds have nested in the houses on the front porch, filling the air with their song. My favorite is the currently vacant chickadee house nestled among twisting clematis vines. The lack of chickadees is more than balanced by little sparrows, goldfinches, scrub jays, and starlings. Later there will be (I hope there will be) hummingbirds. I haven’t seen any yet this year, but hope is eternal.

My home may not be fancy, but it is mine. The garden is an oasis of green grass, rose petals, snapdragons, enthusiastic canines and miniature fruit trees. The birds insist on eating the cherries before we can get to them, but that is okay. The plum tree, which bears the most golden sweet plums you ever tasted, rarely bears fruit. I think perhaps it decided to retire, having already given birth to the perfect plum.

There are corners for reading, listening to the birds, and even a table for eating al fresco. It is my favorite spot, especially now that the grey solstice sky has faded to be replaced by the sun. I think I will grab a book, some crackers, and some left over spinach dip and soak it in.

Easy Spinach Dip

1 brick of cream cheese, softened

2 cups grated sharp cheddar or monterey jack

1/3 cup milk

1 T roasted or fresh jalapeno pepper, chopped

2 chopped tomatoes

1 10-oz box of frozen, chopped spinach, thawed

Stir ingredients together until well mixed. Cocktail shrimp or artichokes make a nice addition. Bake at 375ish in a baking dish for about a half hour until gooey and delicious. If you are dieting, eat in the dark, so the calories cannot find you.

Let There Be Light!

Have you ever considered, I mean really considered, the idea that the universe is a benevolent place filled with beauty and wonder? Think about it. We live in a world where people are filled with (but admittedly don’t always use) an enormous capacity to love. It is a world with sunsets, poetry, peacocks, laughter, music. It has its less pretty moments too, but often that is because people choose to create ugliness rather than embrace beauty. It is so easy to get bogged in the little things that go wrong and “ruin” a day, but how often do we stop to think about all that has gone right?

Rob Breszny posits this beautifully in “Glory in the Highest”, a love letter to the beneficent nature of the universe from his book Pronoia. Every breath we take, every beat of our heart, every feeling we feel, every bite we taste of life is but one of a million small miracles that happen every day. But how often do we stop to appreciate or even acknowledge them?

The truth is that I don’t. I get stressed, wrapped up in my work, completely selfish and blind to the wonder around me. I get crabby. I complain. I succumb to my vast reserves of angst. I let my mind stand in the way of my self having fun. I am so busy thinking of reasons to say "no" that I forget to say "YES!". But I am tired of being tired. And I am tired of cynicism and skepticism. I am tired of ruts. I am tired of negativity. And I am ready for the dawn.

I know there is darkness out there, but every ray of light we put out leaves a little less shadow. So, I am trying something new. I am raising the blinds and making a conscious choice to let in the light and illuminate the dark that creeps into my spirit. It is this darkness that makes me sometimes forget to enjoy life and do my small part of make the world a more beautiful place than it was before I entered it. This is not about grand, sweeping gestures, but an intentional shift toward actions and attitudes that embrace positivity and kindness. And that is what living should be about – gratefully savoring and intentionally seeking out the sweet scents, the spine tingling sounds, the bright spectrum of peacock colors that make life wonderful.

The Peacock Project

When I was a little girl visiting my grandparents in Berlin, my mother would take me to Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island) to visit the little palace Friedrich Wilhelm II had built as a love nest for himself and his mistress. It was always an exciting trip, because you had to take a ferry to get there and because the island is home to a few dozen peacocks.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved peacocks. I am not certain whether this is tied my memories of these visits or simply because they are such beautiful, majestic creatures. Either way, I have an inordinate fondness for these birds. Just look at them! Not only do they sport some of the most beautiful colors found on wildlife, but the infrastructure that allows them to fan their tails is pretty amazing on its own. If you don't believe me (and if you can avert your eyes from the splendor that is the front), try looking at the fan from the back. You'll find an amazing array of feathers with different colors, textures and purposes. Everything has its purpose and it all works together to create a beautiful whole.

For me, these creatures are emblematic of happy childhood memories, relaxing days in the country, picnics, and the beauty to be found in nature and in life. In a world of heavy work schedules and overtime, we sometimes forget about these things. And that is really why I created this blog - as a reminder for myself to find and focus on the things that make life better. After all, to write about them, I have to slow down to allow myself to experience them!