Yummy...

Some things truly are sweeter the second time around...I picked up this book a few years back and enjoyed every word.  Recently, I was going through my stash of books and magazines in preparation for a book fair fundraising event and I found my copy (along with some old Nancy Drew mysteries).  I pulled it out for our 17 year-old son, who has been studying teachings on the subject of "tolerance'' (he is getting a lot of practice since he started his first job!).  What began as a quick flip through turned into a full re-read and I'm finding it to be just as delicious as I remembered!

So, since I'm still healing from my runner's injury and seem to have extra time in my weekends (I miss my yoga students terribly!), I've sliced up a piece of yummy chocolate cake and snuggled down, book in hand.

Check it out and enjoy a little weekend Zen...and don't forget the chocolate cake (there's a recipe in the back of the book)!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Chocolate-Cake-Sutra-ebook/dp/B000N0WTGA

Bits and Pieces...

I'm quite certain that you are probably much like me.  I ramble through my day to day from one project to another before waking up one Sunday morning to realize that it is already March and spring is truly around the cornner (and creeping up in my herb garden).  I'm afraid I've been a bit guilty of too much planning and not enough pausing.  Anyway, here we are with long sunny days at our finger tips and I must say I am yearning for an afternoon outside with my sketch book and a cup of tea.

As always, life at the farmhouse is busy but it's more process than progress, I'm afraid.  We still have renovation projects pending and I think I'm going to have to spend some serious time this spring reclaiming my flower beds.  With April around the corner, our tandem bicycle is itching for some time on the road...and my running shoes have already gotten a lot of attention as my husband and I have been training for our first half-marathon.   That doesn't leave a lot of time for creative thinking!

I'm beginning to feel the weary effects of too much time away from my studio.  I think I realized that this morning.  A dear yoga student gave me the most beautiful card this week and I decided to add it to my inspiration wall.  (I use the wall beside the window in my studio to display notes, sketches, pictures, and other beautiful things.)  I stood there admiring the many unqiue images layered together and I immediately felt a little hollow having missed my time with ink and paint.  Not that I haven't thought about things I would like to do...something new for my Esty shop, some intersting shelves for the bathroom, a gift for a sweet couple planning their wedding this fall...a prayerful  note to a special friend.

So, since my time is a little thin these days, I have to make sure that all of the other little bits and pieces feed my creative spirit.  Creativity really is a lifestyle...cooking a meal, creating a new playlist for my yoga class, rearranging the pantry, carrying a cute umbrella, appreciating the art in a collection of bottle caps...these little things have fed my creative spirit this winter,  along with picking funky socks to wear on my weekly long run (anything to make the miles a little more fun).  Nothing complex, I know, but collectively, these small things keep my creative mind happily humming along.

I'll keep you posted on my creative progress.  Until then, please take a moment and visit my Etsy Favorites to see the creative spirit at work in the studios of other indie artists and collectors.

Happy almost spring, everyone!

A rainy Saturday and other things...

After a really tough week - for many reasons - I felt ready to embrace a rainy Saturday.  Normally, I find myself a bit resentful of rain on the weekends.  Most of my errands are accompolished between Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and the weekends generally offer my only opportunity to spend some time in the studio painting or sewing.  My studio has amazing natural light, but cloudy days leave the room rather dim and dreary, and shopping, making deliveries, and doing yardwork are not much fun in the rain.  But today was different.  The cloudy skies somehow gave me the perfect excuse to take it easy...move a little more slowly, lingering here and there...

I was ready for some much needed downtime, but first things first, so, I washed the dishes, poured a strong cup of Crawdad's (otherwise known as the hubby) coffee, and sat down with a couple of chocolate chip cookies for breakfast.  The coffee cleared my mind (sorry, but I really can't give the cookies credit for that), and I looked out the windown to check for rain.

No rain yet.  I threw on my tights and a sweater and headed downtown to teach my Saturday yoga class.  It's important to clarify here that I don't consider teaching yoga to be work in any way and, since my current schedule offers so little time to teach, I'm thrilled by every opportunity.  Anyway, after class, the skies were still grey, but the rain was holding back a bit, so I made a side trip to Benefit Your Life, a wonderful health food store specializing in gluten free and all natural products.  (I'll tell you all about them later, as they will be carrying some of my fabric pieces including my aprons, pillowcases, and market totes, but until then, check them out online.)  Then, it was off to the market for veggie burger fixins and Peroni beer, before I weaved my way back home.  Still, no rain.

I didn't bother to change clothes (yoga clothes are, after all, known for their comfort).  Wrapped in a blanket, I snuggled up on my bed with the dogs, a good book, and the remote control.  I watched the Biography channel, napped and read, and enjoyed the occassional interruption by one child or another who wanted to join the fun.  Later, Crawdad and the kids (believe it or not) pitched in to help cook dinner.  Since it still hadn't stared raining, we decided to put the burgers on the grill and then we all piled up in the living room to watch TV.  The air was cool enough for a low fire and we watched TV, laughed and debated, and enjoyed a little family time.

I've been cleaning the kitchen and listening to the kids.  I just realized that Crawdad has fallen asleep in the wingback chair...and it's raining.

I'm not really sure when the rain started, but I guess it doesn't really matter.  The idea of a rainy day has been enough...enough to give me a reason to let go, relax, and re-group and that has been a gift.  Tomorrow, I will once agin turn my attention to projects and spend my time immersed in fabric, paint, and a little G. Love.  But as a punctuation to a really stressful week, I've enjoyed my day...although I don't have much to show for it, except a full belly and a few more chapters in the book I'm reading...but I'll crawl in bed soon, turn out the lights, and listen to water dripping from the gutter outside my bedroom window, grateful for a rainy Saturday.

The Kitchen Shelves...and other lessons in patience



As promised...let me tell you about my kitchen shelves.  There are only two of them and they aren't very long, but I must say I'm pretty pleased with the way things turned out, which is a really good thing because it only took forever to plan, design, and create this little bit of kitchen art.  The process started in September...

You'll recall that we began working on our tiny kitchen last fall.  Well, it isn't quite finished - the holidays hit and my free time got stretched between work, projects for clients, gifts for friends...you get the idea, and I;ve spent the last couple of months playing catch-up.  Still, we've made progress, and I'm grateful for that.  Always intended as a part of our kitchen re-do, the shelves, however, took on a life of their own.

I guess it's fair to say I suffer from AADD...Artistic Attention Deficit Disorder.  Somewhere down deep, I had an idea about how I wanted the shelves to look, but I kept bouncing from one design to another.  My husband and I debated whether they would work better on this wall or that, we planned for 3 shelves, but I changed my mind after the wood was purchased and cut to size, so we ended up with two by default...oh, and the brackets (you get the idea).  In short, my kitchen shelves became one big lesson in patience.

Patience is a funny thing...it takes a certain patience to sit in traffic or stand in line. Pregnancy was a huge test of patience for me and my children will tell you that waiting for Christmas morning or the last day of school is no picnic.  I have friends that are models of patience as they wait for loved ones in the military serving overseas to come home.  It takes patience to loose weight, quit smoking, and save money.  It takes patience to mend a broken heart, paint your nails, and wait for water to boil.  It's hard to practice patience with other people...and maybe even harder to have patience with youself.  And that's the lesson of my kitchen shelves - I had to be patient with me.

Well, I finally settled on size and design, spent a couple of weekends with various paints, prints, and mediums, and finished each shelf with a bit illustration.  My patience paid off and I'm pleased with the detail, color, and funky attitude these functional art pieces have added to my kitchen.  With walls painted, tile border finished, and shelves up, I am beginning to see the big picture...a little trim work, floor finishing and cabinet paint and we'll be able to sit back and...well, maybe not relax, exactly, but at least enjoy the view while we wash dishes!  But that will have to wait for another day...I'm back at work in the studio for the next couple of weeks...another opportunity for patience.

Simply Sacred...

I know it has been ages since I've written and I can only tell you that I've thought a hundred times about what I might share.  Basically, the past couple of months have been busy...more than busy, and I find myself, as I'm sure many do, simply chasing the day.

I had planned for this blog to be about patience...and my kitchen shelves (yes, there is a connection there, I promise)...but that post will have to wait for another day.  I am, by the way, quite pleased with my little shelf creation...just so you know it was worth the wait.  But the shelves are only a small part of the past few weeks and I promise more on projects later.

Today, however, I was taking a moment to watch  a little TV with our daughter, Gentry (she has been a little under the weather this weekend and needed a some Mommy time) and I heard something that touched me.  A Jewish Rabbi was talking about the orthodox Jewish diet and explained that the diet was an extension of the idea that we should celebrate holiness in our daily life.



I was touched...he had somehow articulated what I haven't quite been able to put into words.  I am frequently asked by friends, family and co-workers why I choose be a vegetarian.  As crazy as it may sound, I really do believe everything is sacred and somehow, I feel a deeper harmony with Mother Earth if I don't eat meat.  But honoring the holiness of daily life is bigger than what I eat...it really is how I choose to live...

My husband scratches his head at my insistance that the bed be made each morning.  My daughter doesn't quite understand why I use my good china once a week.  A full moon fills me with a sense of wonder and I love to hear the windchimes sing on a windy night.  I light candles every evening and almost always have a fresh vase of flowers under the window.  I feel comfort in a bowl of soup and a yummy glass of wine on a weeknight, a kitchen filled with the smell of fresh bread and shelves designed and created by yours truly, and an evening spent wrapped in a blanket watching the sunset from my back porch.

None of this is ovewhelmingly significant, but our lives are crafted in the little moments...moments spent recognizing the holiness of daily life.  Celebrating the sacred simply means paying attention, living in harmony and gratitude, honoring the day with a soft spirit, and remembering that everything that surrounds us...no matter how small or mundane...is a holy gift.

I'll tell you all about the shelves, the virtures of patience, and future projects another time.  Today, I'm just enjoying their beauty...and the end of the day.

Livin Life...

Once again, I'm marking time by the change of the seasons.  Since September here in East Tennessee was unusually warm, the onset of autumn has taken me a bit by surprise.  Cooler weather, which ususally brings out the knitting needles, hot cocoa recipes, and all things honoring evening shadows, full moons, and the color orange, has simply left me chilly and wondering where my sweaters are.  Life seems to be rolling right along without any consideration of my schedule or list of unfinished projects.  Honestly, I guess this is as it should be...too much control short circuits creativity, I think, so I it's time to embrace the moment and remember that this orangic flow to my days really is like a breath of fresh air.

Available at Southern Fried Gallery



 I've spent much of the last few weeks in the studio.  I'm excited to say some of my originial folk art and a few of my fabric pieces are now available at the Southern Fried Gallery in Townsend, Tennessee...a unique shop filled with creations by local artists and handmade gurus.  I'm thrilled to be included with such a talented group of artists, but new projects tend to eat up the edges of my day and sometimes I forget to notice the leaves changing colors or dusk creeping in earlier each evening.  Then, several nights ago, I heard the old barn owl begin to sing.  Time for a break, I think, so we decided to take a deep breath this weekend and host our first bonfire of the season.

There really is something to be said for simply living life.  I'm so blessed that I enjoy all that I do...even when it feels a little overwhelming...but it is so easy to get lost in creating a life and forget to simply enjoy living the one we already have.  Tonight, I plan to do just that...roasted veggie soup is already simmering on the stove, hats and gloves have been secured, and I just pulled our old quilts out of the cedar chest...all in preparation of a night by the fire in the company of old friends.  Tomorrow I can plot, organize, and update my weekly planner, but for a few hours this evening, I'm going live life...totally in the moment, watching the stars and maybe even adding a little harmony to that barn owl's song.

Making Decisions...

I've come to accept the fact that although practicing yoga has given me greater awareness, clarity and focus, there are still moments when I feel completely overwhelmed and confused.  I still spend unnecessary time each morning debating what to wear (especially if I ended the night before eating a huge bowl of ice cream while watching Project Runway), and I don't dare attempt grocery shopping without first developing a detailed list.  It took weeks to choose which veggies to plant in my garden and a year before I finally decided to color my hair (which I love, by the way).  This week, I've faced yet another round of decision drama...what color should we paint our kitchen?

This really isn't a new question, since we've been planning our kitchen remodel for months.  Still, I've changed my mind at least 50 times to the point that my husband, Crawdad, finally gave me a deadline and vowed he would pick the color himself should I fail to make a decision.  So, faced with such a scary ultimatum, I moved everything out of my kitchen, Gentry and I primed the walls, and I sat back to take it all in...

Now, you really need to understand that chaos may be the intricate border that outlines my daily life, but physical disorder gives me vertigo...seriously.  My hands were shaking just taking this picture and I get slightly sick at my stomach every time I walk through this room...I just can't think straight when things are all piled up.  Not the best situation to be in when faced with decision making.  Add to that the fact that the artistic side of my brain thinks in multiples...if blue is good, then purple, pink and yellow are even better...you get the idea!  Still, I really want my kitchen to be a peaceful place and, since the room is tiny with no real options to expand, I plan to use lighter shades to open the space and give it a little room to breathe, so multiple color combos are, unfortunately, out.

I've spent weeks going through magazines and color swatches.  I researched painting techniques and interviewed dozens of friends and co-workers regarding their personal color choices.  I've meditated and calculated and spent at least 3 hours at Lowe's in the last two days.  Finally, I think I've made a decision...

Pale lemon yellow and a pretty light grey.  Crawdad gave in and agreed to use tile instead of a traditional chair rail (he is debating whether to tile the back splash behind our kitchen counter as well) because I told him it would take me at least another week to decide what color to paint it!  I'll have to deal with the chaotic clutter for a few days, but the kids are having a blast eating Chinese take-out and pizza, since my oven has been temporarily relocated to the middle of the kitchen.  At least the fridge is still plugged in and full of cold beer - a home improvement must have!

Today, I'm taking a deep breath and a couple of ibuprofen before I finish sanding and priming.  I feel so confident since decisions have been made and really can't wait to see it all come together.  Now, if I could just decide on paint for the bathroom...

Life Changing...

About this time each year, I feel an internal shift as summer winds down into fall and the kids go back to school.  Soon, the air will begin to feel cooler, our days will be shorter, and our easy family life will pick up speed, racing head long into autumn with barely a breath to spare before the holidays.  So, as I think about the coming school year, I can't believe how much our lives have changed in recent years.

This weekend, I found myself wondering about life changing events.  First, I met a lovely young lady in my Saturday morning yoga class. She was a beautiful bride-to-be looking forward to walking down the aisle that evening. I was touched that she chose to share a part of her special day with me and I can only imagine the many special life changing moments waiting for her in the years to come.   Later, I found myself sharing baby stories at the baby shower for our family's newest edition...my cousin's little girl, Emory Kate.  I had been working all week on her baby gift, and I don't know if it was the fun I had testing various shades of pink or the joy I of painting rainbows and clouds, but I kept remembering clearly those tender moments before the birth of my own daughter and how peaceful I felt.

It's funny how life changing events seem to unfold...some expected and long anticipated, others more surprising, and still others so gentle and subtle that we are rarely aware of their significance until we look back and realize how much things have changed.  I remember writing my name over and over again the night before my wedding, thinking how odd it would be to have a new last name.  I remember clearly how much my own life changed at the birth of our son and then shifted again when our daughter came along.  I remember my children's tentative first days of kindergarten and recently esprinted those moments again as our kids entered middle and high school.  I remember losses, successes, career changes and relocations...and still our lives continue to evolve.

Our son is 16 years old now and planning on driving to school and just yesterday, we registered his car for a school parking permit.  And even as he doesn't recognize how much his life is beginning to change, I, too, am working through my own life changing moments...adjusting to life with teenagers, multiple careers, life in this old farm house.  I'm looking  back with a bit of a sigh, I'm afraid, but still looking forward to whatever tomorrow might bring!

Independence Day...

Spring is filled with the pastels of Easter, Autumn is all about deep orange and rich ruby, and there's always the Christmas tradition of dressing everything in red and green.  Summer, however, is all about the red, white and blue and Independence day is Summer's signature event!  I really enjoy pulling out my collection of stars and stripes...it begins on Memorial Day when we drape our American Flag over the back deck and then I keep adding on until my whole house has taken on the easy, clean colors of summer.  Red, white and blue, after all, perfectly compliment seashells and suntans.

As easy as it is to create harmony with red, white, and blue, independence, however, is more complex.  We gather with family and friends, grill out burgers, eat apple pie and enjoy our annual fireworks parade, but independence is something that should be celebrated each and every day.

I am thankful for people who think independently...those who go out on a limb, stretch the boundaries, and develop new ideas.  I am amazed at the budding independence I see in my children...their confidence and acceptance as they begin to explore their place in our world.  I am inspired by those who live independently...growing their own food and creating by hand both things necessary and things luxurious.  I am humbled by those who willingly sacrifice their own comfort, freedom, and lives to secure social and economic independence for others.  And, although my definition extends beyond the lofty ideas of our founding fathers, I'm certain that without a few stars and stripes, a flag imprinted on a coffee mug, or one day in July set aside to embrace that which makes us independent, this simple, powerful idea, an idea which has defined us as a nation, might be forgotten.

Happy 4th of July...I wish you both fireworks and fun this Independence day...and maybe a quiet moment to reflect, to smile, and to be happy you live in a country that celebrates in red, white, and blue.

Laid Back Summer Fun...

I love summer.  Daily I hear remarks about how hot the weather has been, how humid the air feels, how generally sticky and uncomfortable things seem...but I have to admit, although autumn is my favorite time of year, I'm still like a school kid anxious for a break from my typical schedule and the inevitable slowing down that comes with hot days and humid nights.

The first house my husband and I lived in was a small, old house on 10 acres of land.  We moved in November, just in time to enjoy spending Christmas with our family.  The house really wasn't set-up for entertaining, however, so we hosted our first large scale party several months later on Memorial Day when the weather was warm and we could take advantage of the acres of hayfield surrounding around our house.  What fun we had!  Since then, we've lived in homes large and small, but most of our parties are still held outdoors with tents, bonfires, potato salad and a whole lot of laid back fun.

For Memorial Day this year, we had friends and family over to celebrate our son's birthday...Darby turned 16 this year.  Tables and chairs were set up on the deck and out under a tent in the field near the fire pit.  Adults were chatting and playing horse shoes (yes, we have a regulation horse shoe pit), while the kids were running around, riding bikes, playing music, etc.  At one point in the evening, I noticed my now 16 year old son and a friend sitting around the table on our deck playing a board game.  I was surprised, but I don't know why...Checkers, Dominos, Rook, and Crazy 8's have long been a part of our family summer tradition and game boards and card decks are packed along side the sunscreen on camping trips as well as our annual trek to Florida.  Still, Darby's interests have been so diverse lately, and, at 16, he really is evolving right before my eyes into an amazing young man.  In that moment, however, time seemed to stand still and I felt such sweet peace...to be reminded that no matter how grown up my children may seem, some things truly never change.

The green, hand painted game board is one of my own design...just a breath of inspiration as I watched my son have fun doing the simplest of summer things.  Long ago we began loosing pieces to our game boards - two kids, two dogs, and two relocations have left me with a random assortment of game pieces, I'm afraid, so we began collecting bottle caps and using them instead...we've also used buttons, pennies, and pretty much anything lying around.  Nothing complicated here, but as functional as it is funky.  This board design really illustrates the simple, summer lifestyle we've embraced.  So, grab a game board or pull out that deck of cards, pop off a bottle cap, and take a deep breath.  Summer only comes around once a year...enjoy.

Getting Organized...

Since I have some custom orders to fill, I decided that my sweet little studio needed a bit of cleaning and organizing...not unlike the rest of this old farmhouse!  I'm afraid that my time spent painting and playing in my veggie patch had left the studio more than a little bit messy, so...time for spring cleaning, so to speak!

I have spent much of the last few days fabric shopping (not that I'm complaining, mind you!) for paisley and floral prints...oh, and a new iron since Darby's foray into silk screening destroyed my old one when he accidentally tipped it over onto some jumper cables in the garage.  Although I still can't find my fabric scissors, I'm planning on creating some new Namaste' Pillowcases and other bed linens, but I think I've got enough fabric for a few other projects.  The patterns have inspired me so much,t I find myself doodling paisley designs instead of doing other, more important things like washing dishes or doing the laundry, but I'm sure my doodles will turn up in my artwork before too long, so I still considered it time well spent. 

Speaking of painting, although I haven't finished tweaking the veggie patch artwork, I'm already planning my next set of projects, so I made an early morning trip out to the barn to search for some old wood.  I got a little side-tracked when I uncovered these old plant pots...dirty, of course, but in great shape, so now my mind is winding its way down new creative roads.

I've decided I don't take nearly enough time for planning and organizing.  Like many of you, my days can get pretty overwhelmed with the day-to-day stuff like brushing my teeth and cooking dinner and, since I seem to have a little bit of project ADD, I feel like my creative mind is going in twenty different directions at once!  Still, organizing clears the path for inspiration, I think...and certainly points out that I have five bottles of Caribbean Blue paint, but only one bottle of yellow.  It gives me a road map for accomplishment and a sense of clarity.  Getting organized is sort of like taking a deep, cleansing breath and I kind of like that idea.

Now...if I could just find those scissors...

Going Green Gracefully...

Since this subject has come up twice in one day, I find my self wondering what it means to "go green."  Does that mean I commit to only buying products labeled "Certified Organic?"  Does it mean I simply recycle, compost, and do my level best not to waste water or any other natural resource?  Do I have to drive a hybrid car?  Does it mean that I adopt a sustainable living philosophy and only consume things I can create or grow with the resources available just outside my front door?  Does it simply mean that I don't use chemicals on my budding veggies?

Truthfully, it means all of the above and quite a bit more, I think.  Each of us approach living on Mother Earth according to certain limits - time, skills, location, etc. - so shouldn't every effort made to honor and protect this little planet we call home be applauded?  Unfortunately, all of this chit chat about "green living," "organically grown," and "environmentally friendly" has opened the door for the worst of human shortcomings:  a self-righteous attitude.

Although the intentions might be pure, we've fallen into a nasty habit of measuring our behavior based on a sense of self-righteous pride...deciding that the actions of others just simply fall a little short.  We look down our noses into our neighbors grocery carts and mentally note their lack of involvement in healthy living simply based on their purchase of non-organic cereal.  We mutter under our breath about the amount of non-recycled garbage in our neighbors trash cans.  We plant backyard gardens all the while feeling pretty smug and enlightened without ever considering where our compost, top soil, or seeds come from - and if we do, we're all the more smug for it!

A friend of mine, Peaceful Peacock Julie, encounter this green bias first hand while marketing her rather unique reusable tea bags.  Although most reactions have been positive, even this small step into the more murky than green waters of environmental awareness has met its fair share of self-righteous judgement because these tea cuties just might not be green enough.  Instead of simply thanking her for thinking outside the box (or bag, in this case), she was chastised for using "organic cotton" and not other materials.  So sad.

Me?  I believe that every decision we make has an affect and that each choice to conserve, recycle, and re-think our approach to life on this plant collectively adds up to a greener Mother Earth.  Every decision is important and any attempt to honestly make a difference should be met with a smile and words of encouragement.  Only then will we have the courage and tenacity to take on bigger environmental challenges - small steps, and all that.  We need to go green a little more gracefully - with patience for those just beginning to walk their green path and inspiration from those futher up the road.

Just a Yoga Noodle...

I am often asked, "What is a Yoga Noodle?"  Well, I guess you could say that a Yoga Noodle is a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  Just like a big pot of soup, I believe that a Yoga Noodle is filled with flavors, aromas, and textures - some expected and familiar and others as unique as a family recipe.  Yoga Noodles is a lifestyle, not just a practice...it's as much about time spent at the flea market as time spent on the mat and time spent in the kitchen as time spent in a yoga class.

Yoga is art, athleticism, and meditation.  These things don't simply exist for an hour a couple of times a week...they are a part of everything we do, and, perhaps more importantly, how we approach life.  For me, yoga isn't as serious as it is refreshing - I call it "easy vinyasa" - and so I would maintain that we are all Yoga Noodles if we live off the mat what we practice on it.  Some days are challenging, others are strong.  Some days are less focused and others are smooth as silk.  Some days are all about doing and other days are all about being.

Yesterday, I found myself doing a lot.  I got up early and began my errands, which included a trip to Lowe's for top soil, kitchen hardware, and paint swatches as well as Thress's for herbs and lettuce plants.  Next, my daughter, Gentry, and I set out for the Flea Market.  My find of the day:  two painted, wicker butterfly lanterns - I have a weakness for garden lanterns!  Then, it was back home to try out my new kitchen sink (love it!), do a little spring cleaning, and whip up some yummy stuffed peppers for dinner.

Did I do yoga?  Not technically...I never once unrolled my mat and, although I managed a few fairly challenging balancing poses while vacuuming, I can't say I attained anything resembling asana.  Still, it was, for me, all yoga, all day long.  I lived yesterday with an easy flow...enjoying every beautiful, peaceful moment...and at the end of the day, I felt as physically tired and completely centered as I would have had I had spent 90 minutes on my yoga mat.

I would encourage you to embrace this "easy vinyasa" attitude and begin to see how your yoga practice has filtered into your everyday...whether its Downward Dog or daffodils; plank pose or pot pie...it's all a part of being just a little Yoga Noodle!

Hyacinth and Ahimsa...

I'm really not a very experienced gardener. That's not to say that I don't have a lifetime of exposure to gardening, but, aside from house plants, my own efforts have been fairly limited to some herbs, a few vegetables, and a random sampling of flowers (with an emphasis on random and sampling). After years of trial and error (with an emphasis on error), my approach to gardening has evolved into something practical and low maintenance...I plant sage, basil, rosemary, and thyme for cooking; tomatoes and peppers because I use them almost daily; flowers for color; and lavender for luck.

Years ago, I became very frustrated with my gardening skills. I spent hours reading gardening books as if they were some sort of bible filled with mysterious knowledge. I obsessed over my plants, but was never quite able to figure out appropriate watering schedules and was overwhelmed by the concept of adequate soil preparation. So, I gave up. I resigned myself to simply enjoy the wildflowers and honeysuckle vines that filled my yard and developed my love for farmers' markets that could provide me with veggies so beautiful I couldn't imagine them ever growing in my sad patch of dirt. I stuffed silk flowers in my vases and read my beloved gardening books like novels...filled with pure fiction and interesting characters. Then, just as I was embracing my non-gardening life, our daughter, Gentry, brought home a small potted plant.

It was a school project. Apparently, they had planted some sort of seed and, once it sprouted, they had to take it home and monitor it's growth. My anxiety was almost overwhelming. I was clearly not emotionally prepared. All of my nurturing skills were reserved for the kids, the dogs, and my yoga students with very little left over. But, since systematically destroying Gentry's science project was not an option, I did what I do best...I took a deep breath.

Gentry wasn't sure what the plant was, exactly, only that it was some sort of bean, so, I couldn't run to one of my beloved gardening books and determine it's moisture to sunlight ratio. With few other options, I approached this plant just like I approach my yoga practice...organically. When the soil felt dry, I watered it. When the plant seemed to droop, I moved it to a sunnier spot. When it was warm outside, I set it on the deck. When it was cold, I set it on the stove. Most importantly, I loved this little plant...and I'm sure it felt that love: in my touch, in my breath, in the sound of my voice. Unintentionally, I was practicing the essence of what has become my signature approach to gardening...ahimsa.

Ahimsa is a doctrine found in both Hindu and Buddhist religions. Now, to be fair, I'm neither Hindu nor Buddhist, but the concept of ahimsa is mirrored in Christianity by the Golden Rule...do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It's simply a celebration of all life; recognizing that every life is sacred and requiring that we treat the living world with respect; that we commit to do no harm in thought or deed. Even the Native Americans recognize the sacredness of life, requiring that when we consume nature, we understand that we are absorbing a type of spiritual energy and that we do no harm...ask permission, take only what we need, and say thank you...all done with a heart filled with love.

I loved that little plant. And it grew. The first few inches amazed me. The next few inches required a new pot. Several inches later, we re-potted again...and it continued to grow. I came to believe that every time I looked at it, it grew an inch, eventually overwhelming my kitchen window and winding it's way down into the sink and over the counter. I never did anything particularly special for this little plant...but I made sure to do no harm.

I never really thought I would have a philosophy about gardening, but I've come to believe ahimsa is the key. I've got several pots of flowers this spring. A couple of my pots are hold-overs from last year. They should have died off months ago (they were never designed to survive the winter), but a little water, a warm stove, sunshine on a pretty day, and a little pruning kept them flowering all winter long. Just the other day, I noticed my hyacinth beginning to bloom. They look so fresh and smell amazing and, as with my yoga practice, my relationship with these lovely flowers is intuitive...a little water if the soil feels dry, plenty of sunlight, and a lot of love. Most importantly, I will simply try to do no harm.

Oh, and as for those gardening books...a couple stacked up and my potted pansies are just the right height to soak in a little morning sunshine!

On a winter morning...

The ground is covered with a thin, crusty layer of snow. Shades of grey swirl together in the sky until they merge into the shadows of distant mountains, confusing my senses and leaving me to wonder where one ends and the other begins. My breath is visible in the air for brief moments, until crisp wind washes the space around me without thought or apology...leaving this space vacant, quiet, and completely still.

My mind searches for warmth and drifts to colorful memories...to vibrant shades of blue, green, and yellow. My ears reach out to hidden sounds...to squirrels rustling in the woods and the hollow echo of a distant woodpecker. And then, just as I become mesmerized by the striking and simple beauty of this cold morning, I hear a familiar sound. A gentle whine.

My skin feels tight over my muscles as I walk toward the house, careful to avoid any ice still sleeping on the steps. My fingers refuse to linger, numbly manipulating the handle on the back door, as it tends to stick in icy weather.

Inside, my body tingles, struggling to adjust to warmth, to the gentle rhythms of my kitchen, to the bright colors teasing my eyes, and the reassuring tick of the clock on the wall.

Then I feel it...that familiar and friendly sensation of warm breath behind my knee and soft fur brushing against my legs. Should I feel relieved to be inside, safe, sound, and warm...or simply grateful I was able to fully experience the hidden beauty of this cold morning? With a small sigh, I gaze down and smile softly at my dog.

I give her a snack and pour myself a cup of tea. If I'm lucky, she won't need to go outside again for a few hours.

Chipping Paint and the Perfect Pose...

I guess it's fair to say that I spend and unusual amount of time staring at my toenails. No, I don't think I have a "thing" for toes, but given the fact that I have spent most of the last decade teaching yoga, it's understandable that I spend at least an hour or two each day in some form of a forward bend (both on and off of the mat) gazing at my toenails. I'm still not impressed with what I see.


I don't have pretty feet. Aside from genetics, my feet have been fairly banged up from running, hiking, and time on the mat. Still, I do my best to disguise my shortcomings with bright, funky nail polish carefully applied to each nail. (After all, I wouldn't want my weekly parade of yoga students to be distracted by the sight of my naked toenails and topple out of a Downward Facing Dog!) The problem with nail color is that it eventually thins and chips, leaving the nails looking sadly neglected and less than perfect. But wait...my nails were never perfect to begin with, so why does chipping nail polish bother me so much?

Let's face it...we aren't a perfect bunch. We eat too much, move to little, laugh inappropriately, tell secrets, and set completely unrealistic expectations for ourselves and others. Still, we all want to improve...to look better, act better, do better, be better. From finances to friendships, we measure our perfection by these arbitrary and external standards. Sometimes, we achieve our goal, briefly...then, just like chipping paint, perfection thins and chips, exposing us for what we really are: perfectly normal.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't have goals or abide by certain ethical, moral, and virtuous standards. I'm simply saying that there is a certain freedom in embracing chipped nail polish, peeling paint, gray hair, wrinkles, second place, an average test score, an old car, an unfriendly neighbor, and yes, even that Downward Facing Dog (your heels don't really have to touch the ground, you know!).

Look around today...not with judgement, but with an appreciation for all of the little imperfections. Smile a little and know that it's OK to be something less than perfect. Forward Bend:

First, there is no such thing as a Perfect Pose...but there is definitely such a thing as feeling perfect in a pose! Forward Bend is simply that, bending the body in half...reaching beyond the mind to bring the heart closer to the earth. This pose provides for an intense stretch through the back as well as hamstrings, calfs, and perhaps even the shoulders. Following is my very modified version...it allows for imperfection (and a opportunity to check out your toenail polish!).

1. Sitting comfortably on the mat, extend both legs out in front of you. Breathe deeply and let your breath pull you up through the crown of your head until you spine feels really long and your body resembles the letter "L".
2. Exhale and relax your shoulders. Inhale and extend your arms overhead. Exhale and gently reach forward with your chest. Bend your knees slightly and/or widen your legs, if necessary, to reach forward.
3. Breathe deeply and come back to a sitting position. Exhale and lower the arms.
4. Repeat 3 to 5 times
5. On your final repetition, exhale gently reaching forward with your chest. Inhale and remain here. Exhale, relax your head, neck, and shoulders and allow your upper body to sink deeply toward your thighs. Although your back may have begun to round a bit, continue to lengthen your spine with each breath and sink deeper into the pose as you exhale.
6. Finally, breathe and lift the face and chest slightly, then exhale and gently roll up the spine until you come back to a sitting position.
7. Smile.