Some of you who read about my volunteer work at the Mansion might remember Jane (Norma Jane)For the past 10 years, I have volunteered at the Mansion in many different ways. Working at the Mansion was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life, and it opened me to the idea of living the rest of my life trying to do good for people with nowhere else to go (Jesus’s suggestion).When I met Jane more than two years ago, she was in the Memory Care Unit. One of the aides told me I had to come and see the art she was creating every morning of her life. I admit to falling in love with Jane, who loved me right back.We hardly spoke in words, but I made it a point to go to the unit and see the art. The aides who alerted me are gone now, but it was beautiful to see how they saved all of her art and bragged about it to everyone they could find. We even put up an art show in the hallways.When I think of Jane, I always think of her sparkling smile. She may have lost some memory, but the spirit was very much alive.
Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz
From Maria, A Meditation On Focus. Find Your Center.
Out in the forest, a beautiful meditation on focus, refocus, and focus, courtesy of the pond that runs through our woods. Notice how the life in the video focus and refocus, up and down.
Me And Zip Keep Our Grounding: Deep Listening, Deep Feeling.
It was bitterly cold last night, and many of the people I know are freaking out over the election. I found myself in the backyard with a Barn Cat in my lap.
In recent days and weeks, I’ve chosen to keep my mouth shut about the election. We are swimming in pundits who seem to know little; I’m not joining that club. I got anxious yesterday and worried about my country, as almost everyone does. I went outside to sit in the sun (glare in my eyes), and Zip joined me. He loves getting his chin scratched more than anything. He needs calming, just like I do.
All I have to say about the election is that I feel okay about it. We are going to a better and less grinding place. I feel it in my bones. I’m not saying it will be easy or perfect, but it will be better. I sense better things ahead. I believe there is a Compassion Revolution Underway; the Cambridge Food Pantry is my evidence.
Zip seems to feel it when I am edgy; he’s always there, waiting to get his chin scratched (photo by Maria, of course.) I hope this blog is a safe place for people to come and rest the rawness of the world beyond. I love it here for many reasons, and this is one of them: sitting outside, watching the sky, the animals, the pasture, the light, and zipping along always.
Cats are witches, I think; I never know where they are, but they always know where I am.
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“Deep listening and loving speech are wonderful instruments to help us arrive at the understanding we all need as a basis for appropriate action. You listen deeply for only one purpose – to allow the other person to empty his or her heart. This is already an act of relieving suffering.”– Thich Nhat Hanh
Need Some Help: Sarah’s Pantry Support Requests For Today, Monday: Favorites, Tide, Velveeta Shells, We Need More Cereal For The Back Pack Children
“Thank you for allowing us to do some good. I’m drowning in requests for money, and it’s a pleasure to trust in you and Sarah at the Food Pantry. I see and know just where the money is going, and it makes me feel so good every time. I give something every time you ask. Thanks for the chance to support the food pantry and do good for people who need help…” Donna, Colorado.
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Sarah urgently needs to replenish the shelves for Tide and Velveeta Shells & Cheese, two of the most wanted items on the Pantry Wish Lists. These items are the hardest to keep on the shelves, and we hope to build some extra storage areas for them so they don’t run out every week.
We greatly appreciate your help. It’s a busy week with many distractions.
Sarah also asks for help getting more healthy cereal to the 67 children who get backpacks so they can have three meals over the weekends when the school lunch programs are unavailable. I was surprised to learn that some children told their teachers they were afraid of weekends and might not eat much until Monday when school re-opened.
We pack the take-home weekend bags on Thursdays. We got enough Ramen, but Sarah says the pantry needs more cereal boxes to fill those bags (see below). Please help if you can. She has worked hard to make these items inexpensive:
Sarah’s request for today, Monday:
The much-wanted Tide Ultra Liquid Laundry Detergent, Original Scent, 10 Fl. Oz is $7.47.
In addition, her request for cereal for the kid’s backpack program got cleaned out last week:
The Healthy Life Breakfast Cereal, Cinnamon, 13 oz Boxes (3Pack), $ 8.62.
Original Cinnamon Toast Crunch Breakfast Cereal, 12 Oz Cereal Box, $2.99.
We need cereal for the take-home packs for hungry children on the weekends. Cereal is especially important in their diet for vitamins and energy.
Reminder: You can access the Cambridge Pantry Amazon Food Wish List at any time, day or night, and make your own choices whenever you feel the urge to do good. You can also access the Wish List by clicking the green button at the bottom of every blog post.
Flower Art, Sunday, November 3, 2024. Making A Stand For Color, Light, Beauty And Hope. No One Is Stealing My Soul
“What I see outside my bedroom window in winter is wonderful… I like my life.” – At The Denver Museum, Georgia O’Keeffe.
“Around us, life bursts forth with miracles – a glass of water, a ray of sunshine, a leaf, a caterpillar, a flower, laughter, raindrops; if you live in awareness (of yourself), it is easy to find miracles everywhere.“— Thich Nhat Hanh
I think O’Keeffe and Thich Nhat Hanh were saying the same thing.
I say this every morning and a dozen times a day. People who live in an awareness are blessed. Maria is the first person I knew well who does this day and night, wherever she goes. Some people are aware of the miracles of life; many people are too busy or greedy. I’m learning to see the world anew. My photography and flower pictures are a significant part of that.
Every flower is a miracle to me, waiting to share its secrets. I’m stuck on Tulips at the moment; they are so beautiful and open.
Flowers have all kinds of secrets…
They can dance and sing.
A fire in a flower’s eyes;
We are getting to the heart of it.
The light inside of us…
Grace