something for a rainy day

  It was a bright, sunny morning in my apartment today.  The sun made me want to go straight out onto the balcony to see if the ground was warm enough to smell like spring.  I didn't smell spring, but the birds' song and the breeze in the wind chimes was good enough.  Then I went out to run some errands, and when I was at the bank, the teller asked me if I would like to open a savings account to put aside some money "for a rainy day."  I felt really grateful for that language.  Were those words from her heart and mind, or were they script from the corporate bank?  I guess I could've asked her that question directly, but I don't need to know.  They are wonderful either way.  Isn't the idea of putting aside money, little by little, waiting to be used on a 'rainy day' - a day you feel free and open to possibility and want to spend money on something out of the ordinary - so nice?  Not only does it give you the feeling that life can be abundant with whim and surprise, but it also makes you feel that time is available, and that accumulated time can really amount to something (other than age).  Mostly we hear things like, "you'd better have money set aside in case of a disaster" or "you can't start saving for your retirement too soon"... but to believe that your hard-earned money, slowly squirreled away little by little, might become something you could use for a special rainy day is inspiring.

a new dress

Although I'm up to my chin in things I need to do, I was so worn out by the things I've already done this week, I felt like I could barely keep my eyes open.  So I decided to hop on my bike and see if some sunshine and brisk air might perk me up.  My destination was the new branch of D & J Thrift.  They have so much stuff piled up in the original building that they've taken on a new one a short distance up the road, and I hadn't yet explored it.  This one is set up less like an overwhelming junk emporium, and more like a little antique shop where things have been curated a little and have room to shine, and the prices are a little higher (although thrift prices in Orange are on the rise... you can't blame junk sellers for cashing in on the current trends, right?).  Anyway, I found a new "dress" which is really a caftan... I can see how lots of people would think it hideous, but something about it (you know, the colors, the texture, the idea of the person who made it) hooked me and I knew in my gut I would regret leaving it behind more than I would regret loosing the little money it cost if I decide down the road it was a bad idea.  And, more importantly, the trip out did wake me up, and something that might be a good idea came to me along the way... will tell what this idea is in time if it does indeed bear good fruit!  Please forgive the yucky self-done photos.

And here are more daffodils, plus a ceiling-high branch of flowering quince that I salvaged last week from the yard work job... all the blooms were tightly closed last week when I cut it, and they've been popping open and brightening up my living room all week.  Is it really going to snow again?!

daffodils and da Vinci

When it comes to any kind of fortune telling, from horoscopes, to palm reading, to psychics... I just can't help myself... I happen to like them.  Not that I've ever called Miss what's her name or had my palm read (although I did enjoy a brief amateur study of palmistry when my friend Nora and I threw an old-fashioned carnival themed engagement party for our friend Danielle and I was a palm reader for a night).  I don't take any of it too seriously, but these things can be entertaining and potentially insightful.  

At first I really resisted Rob Brezsny's Free Will Astrology.  His horoscopes are printed in every issue of C-Ville Weekly.  I used to think they were so vague and a little bit pompous... like highfalutin wild goose chase style.  But, I'm finding myself liking them more and more - more than the average horoscope - because they are filled with little unexpected gems of information that are often inspiring. (Is it me or the horoscopes that have changed?)   I especially enjoyed mine from last week and would say that it applies to everyone:

The genius of Leonardo da Vinci was in part fueled by his buoyant curiosity. In his work as an artist, musician, inventor, engineer, and writer, he drew inspiration from pretty much everything. He's your role model for the coming week, Scorpio. Just assume that you will find useful cues and clues wherever you go. Act as if the world is full of teachers who have revelations and guidance specifically meant for you. Here's some advice from da Vinci himself: "It should not be hard for you to stop sometimes and look into the stains of walls, or ashes of a fire, or clouds, or mud or like places, in which, if you consider them well, you may find really marvelous ideas."

-Free Will Astrology by Rob Brezsny

Helleborus from Darlene's garden.
Thank you, Darlene - they are beautiful!

Click here if you'd like to see your own horoscope!  

And if you don't get sparked up by horoscopes, here's a different assignment:  get your hands on a daffodil, stop everything else, hold it really, really close to your nose, and smell it.  MMMMM!!!  It will make you feel so good!  Unless you have allergies :(

wish come true!

will it or won't it?

we never got any snow this year, despite several sensational forecasts to the contrary.  Now, on March 5th, we have another chance!  My intellect feels a little bit wary, maybe kind of like the villagers did who lived below the hillside where the boy who was tending sheep was in the habit of crying wolf... and my gut and my heart say we really might get it this time!  Which would be perfect, I think.  I've missed the snow this year, and have been feeling reluctant to embrace Spring without at least one hearty snow.  Don't you think the emptiness and silence of Winter, and all the shades of grey and brown (and white when it snows!!) are lovely?  It really makes for an atmosphere of reflection, and I luxuriate in the time as a kind of rejuvenating hibernation to develop thoughts and ideas.  It feels appropriate to think but not act. Spring and Summer and Fall are for acting.  Winter is for thinking and planning. (If I do say so myself...hahaha I sound so bossy!)  I think I'm on the verge of being ready to go into action mode.  Just this afternoon, I ordered a new batch of Spring patterns...  and maybe tonight and tomorrow it will snow, and then before daylight savings time begins next Sunday, the snow will have melted, and I'll have wrapped up my pondering and be ready to spring into action alongside the flowers and bugs and busy, chirrupy, nest-making birds.