Tag Archives: life

Love is love.

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these two.

—-

i was so hoping that olive and pete the cat would bond

two cats rescued at different times

both in dubious circumstances

couldn’t be more different

each with their quirks and gifts

now home together.

‘home is not a place, it’s a feeling.’

-cecilia ahern

only human.

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many of us learn by trial and error

myself included

“the problem with people is that they’re only human.”

— hobbes, from “Calvin & Hobbes,” on the limitations of humanity

– bill waterson

image credit: gary larson, the far side

connection.

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the courtship is on for pete and olive

‘the need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food.’

-dean ornish

milkweed.

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“the milkweed pods are breaking,

and the bits of silken down

float off upon the autumn breeze

across the meadows brown.”

– cecil cavendish .

action on behalf of life transforms.

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 Group portrait of Potawatomi Indians, including men, women, and children, gathered for a special occasion

at Rush Lake Mission near Watervliet, Michigan, on Sept. 4, 1906.

Library of Congress image attributed to T.R. Hamilton

‘action on behalf of life transforms.

because the relationship between self and world is reciprocal…

as we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.’

-robin wall kimmerer

robin is a mother, plant ecologist, decorated professor, author, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. In her books, she blends scientific understanding with the traditional ecological knowledge of Indigenous Peoples. The above quote is from her book, Braiding Sweetgrass, and I had the great honor to hear her speak last year.

on Indigenous Peoples’ Day

 

u.s. presidential proclamation:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/10/08/a-proclamation-indigenous-peoples-day-2021/

golden carpet.

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my favorite tree, the ginkgo. especially beautiful in autumn

Mikiko Noji (Japan, b.1978-)

At the Bottom of the Tree, 2023

ink and color on paper

“and all the lives we ever lived and all the lives to be are full of trees and changing leaves…”

-virginia woolf, to the lighthouse

 

Ginkgo biloba, commonly known as ginkgo or gingko, and also known as the maidenhair tree, is the only living species in the division Ginkgophyta. It is found in fossils dating back 270-million years. Native to China, the ginkgo tree is widely cultivated, and was cultivated early in human history. Ginkgo trees have beautiful green leaves that turn a luminous gold-yellow in fall. And on one day, after the hard frost, the ginkgo drops its leaves to the ground leaving a gorgeous carpet of color below.

‘when a match has equal partners then i fear not.’ – aeschylus

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it’s a match!!

i’ve recently been getting

‘match alerts’

with increasing frequency.

in response to my online quests.

there’s a parallel

between three very different things

i’m engaged in simultaneously:

finding a new car for my parking space

finding a new companion for olive the cat

finding a new companion for me.

interesting that the process is somewhat the same:

select the features i am most interested in

state what i am looking for

describe myself, my cat, my driving style

reach out to some that seem interesting

 seem to be a potential good fit

watch to see what matches come back.

in all three areas i’m looking for:

a bit of life experience,

maybe a few rough spots, but made it through,

with somewhat low miles,

a few dings here and there,

but not in need of imminent major repairs.

easy going, intuitive, playful, bright, makes life better

some things the same, some different

to keep it interesting.

hopefully by the end of all this

i’ll be sitting on the couch with someone

the cats sitting in the window

the car parked

sitting at a bit of an angle in my straight-lined parking spot.

i’m open to the possibilities.

our similarities bring us to a common ground; 

our differences allow us to be fascinated by each other.

-tom robbins

image credit: etsy.com

tempting, but….

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darn it!
i was going to park here until i saw this sign.
it looked like the perfect space.
‘the road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces.’
-will rogers

donkey nannies.

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Donkey nannies in Italy

I had no idea this was a thing, and my world was made better by learning that this happens.

Each year in Italy, grazing animals are moved from high pastures down to the plains. Newborn lambs are unable to make this journey on their own. Instead, they ride in the pouches of a specially made saddle on the back of a donkey or a mule nanny. They are taken down at rest stops and returned to their mothers for a bite to eat and a bit of nuzzling.
animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.”
-george eliot

Source credit: avant gardens Photo: medeamoon

designed for rest.

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terraced lawn with shady trees, designed for busy office workers to take breaks

shanghai, china

 

‘design is people.’

*jane jacobs

*jane jacobs (1916-2006) was an urban writer and activist who championed new, community-based approaches to planning for over 40 years.