Sacred Spaces

I have had a lot of evening work meetings lately, which means that I've had more time at home in the morning. Because I am a morning person, this has been great; I have been going for runs, cleaning, listening to music, and crafting before work! A disadvantage is that evening meetings keep my mind tick-tick-ticking beyond bedtime, but soaking up the morning sun in pajamas at a sewing machine is the BEST.

That's right, for the first time in my life I have a sewing machine in my own home. It is my mom's old machine, and the instruction booklet contains her hand-written notes from more than 30 years ago. I am thrilled and have ambition to make everything from nerdy holiday decor to clothing for myself. Which reminds me, I've added another new favorite blog to the sidebar on the right side of the page - lladybird - click on the link to see a badass woman who sews the most awesome clothing. Wowza.

I have also begun knitting again, starting with a basic washcloth. It is so easy to do, but I have historically been quick to give up whenever I make a mistake. This time I'm just continuing to knit despite mistakes, and am about half-way through the washcloth with only one little hole where I mixed up a stitch. Practice will eventually make perfect-enough, and in the meantime I just enjoy the way that knitting shuts off my usual thinking processes (about the future, the past, worrying, etc.) and keeps me present.

Speaking of the present, it is a gorgeous time of year. I had the good fortune of spending a recent staff meeting visiting local sacred Dakota sites. It gave me an opportunity to really think about this space, this land, that I have called home for more than a decade, and the rich history (both good and bad) of this place. One of the sites was a restored prairie on a river bluff, the other a forest in a river valley. It was my first time to either place, even though I've lived nearby for so long. It was a powerful reminder of the sacredness surrounding us, even when we aren't looking.

Lastly, below is a photo of a bouquet that I got at the farmer's market last weekend. I love the combination - delicate flower clusters with furry caterpillar-like purple blossoms.