A New Poem: This is Me

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Polly Castor photography

This is Me I’m a room’s golden glow paneled in luminous framed prints, refracting and shiny with a tossed, jauntily quilted pillow demanding attention. I’m the waxed wood floors, slightly gritty, a bright bouquet of yellow freesia beckoning buoyantly, and a tempting stack of books close by. I’m an empty rocking chair, inviting embrace a … Read more

Lemon Cake and an American Poetry Anthology

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I had a pleasant Friday evening last night interspersed with intervals working in my office, making a Lemon Cake and reading a wonderful anthology of American Poetry. The cake was made from a “Lemon Yogurt Cake” recipe in The Barefoot Contessa’s At Home Cookbook. While my family are definitely not cake people, I was after … Read more

Abandoning Self-Interest

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This sounds like heresy and sacrilege in our society. But it is a foundational Christian concept that if correctly adopted would go a long way to solving all the ills that confront us, not only individually, but societally as well. I always thought Jesus sounded harsh asking people to follow him when he wouldn’t let … Read more

Discouraged About Not Getting Enough Creative Time?

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I have a homeschooling friend that is frustrated. She said recently , “I don’t have enough creative time for me.” She is overwhelmed with responsibility, obligation, and admirable personal goals, but meanwhile, she’s running dry. This is not an unusual thing from what I hear over my spiritual healing practice line. The “shoulds” take over … Read more

Doodling (Mostly in Church)

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I frequently doodle. It helps me concentrate. I’ve always known this to be true but have read recently that this has been confirmed by official research. I often doodle in church to capture phrases that inspire me, but mostly to help me focus. I am delighted that this official research vindicates me in the face … Read more

Today’s Painting

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It was the first real balmy day today, with sublime air, pungent with pine needles and the promise of spring. I painted on an oil painting on my front stoop, breathing in deeply the wonder of the day. That painting is far from finished; today I did layer two out of about twenty. (The first … Read more

Thoughts About Cross Pollination of Ideas and Butterfly Chasing

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Alexander Graham Bell was attempting to invent a hearing aid. Columbus was trying to get to India. Post-its were born out of glue that didn’t work right. Velcro was invented from pondering annoying burrs stuck to the pants from a walk. Steve Jobs applied what he learned about movement and perception while ballroom dancing to … Read more

My New Poem: Nipping it in the Bud?

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Nipping it in the Bud? love an opening bud tentative, unsure is it safe? trust experience: so disappointing, so discouraging or invest in hope: so sanguine, so easily jeopardized, vulnerable and perishable or steel oneself instead: instigating inevitable disillusionment by pushing away – hard fleeing or walled off — disquieted, blighted, to wither alone plagued … Read more