Kathleen Botsford

Trees with No Name

 I find it very interesting that lately most of my collaging has transpired with text AND without any discernible words.  One of my spiritual 'practices' has been to notice whenever I label something or someone, become aware of said label and any ideas implied and then work to undo the label and let things 'just be.'  And as usual, I get lots of 'practice' with this practice.

I was aimlessly wandering through a book store the other day when I came upon this fabulous looking book  with lots of pictures of trees and their leaves and nuts and seeds.  Magnificent illustrations of the trees and their habitats.  Just the kind of book that puts me over the edge anticipating hours and hours of contented  perusing and study.  I was almost hyperventilating as I leafed through the large tome. 

Suddenly I became aware of just how silly my unquenchable thirst for knowledge really is.  What difference does it make if I know the name of a tree or not?   Does that make the tree any less beautiful and full of life? Does it add to it's 'worth' in any way at all?  I think not.  I gently placed the book back on the shelf and walked silently away.  

This autumn I will enjoy the trees and fauna that cross my path WITHOUT knowing a single thing about them.  I will honor and appreciate their innate and gentle beauty.  I will drink in their quiet strength.  I will become full of their peace-filled essence without having to know one single name or fact.  I will live in my body and not in my head.  And I will continue to practice, practice, practice.

P.S.  Today's "Thank You Giveaway" winner is Roxanne of Rivergarden Studio!  I will be contacting you with details!

Bittersweet Weekend

 

It was a bittersweet weekend.  The Irish lost to USC, our #1 rival, for the 8th time in a row.  A heart breaking loss at that but the whole family was at the game and lots of aunts, uncles and cousins too.  This weekend is another rival of sorts, Boston College.  Lots of family coming in for this game also.  Fall seems to be speeding past in a blur of football, tailgating, pep rallies, parties and dinners.  All fun each in their own rite but no time to stop and savor each individual event, each precious person.  Conversations jumble together.  Family and friends come and go.  It is the nature of the season AND completely against my own inner rythms.

I make a conscious point of keeping my calendar in balance.  Football and the Holidays seem to take on a life of their own and the only solution is to jump on the bandwagon and hang on for dear life.  It is tons of fun if I can stay focused on each day as it arrives and not look down the week to the flurry of activity awaiting us.  That can really overwhelm me.  One day at a time, I take what the Universe has to offer and leave the rest for future consumption.  I gets lots of practice in this area but the rewards of inner peace while in the midst of apparent chaos are well worth it.  

Oops!  Now the laundry is a different matter all together......

Drum Roll Please!

Today is my first 'Thank you Give-Away' drawing.  Drum roll please...............and the winner is......wait.......It's a tie!  Debbie W from Four Angels Momma and Jennifer from Wishful Thinking.   Hurray!  I will contact both of you privately to arrange the details.  Thank you for your support and wonderful comments as well as sharing your lives with me.  You are truly appreciated.

On to ordinary news; last weekend was a blur of activity with the kids in town and lots of fun.  We saw the new Vince Vaughn movie.  He is one of Stevie's favorites and the movie was cute, but well worth the price of admission to sit next to Stevie and listen to him laugh at Vince.  His laugh fills the entire theater.  I love it!

Alex's flight arrived Saturday morning at  9 and her return flight left at 9 Sunday evening.  The picture above is from the lunch we all shared on Saturday before Stevie had to head back to school.  Schedules and commitments, bah humbug!  Alex may not make it home for Thanksgiving and will miss our extended family Christmas celebration the weekend before Christmas.  Times are changing.  All I can do is take one day at a time and appreciate their presence when it is present.  And that is my spiritual practice.  Being present.   It may be simple, but try it sometime.  It definitely takes practice. 

A "Thank You" Give-away

 It seems I have had a wrong button pushed on my blog settings making it difficult for people to comment.  I think the problem has been solved so if you have had difficulty in the past, please try again!

I have been taking stock of my creative activities of late.  I love to design and make jewelry.  I am happy as a clam with glue and paint and papers strewn about my studio creating collages.  But I think one of my favorite pastimes is visiting the blogs of the wonderful friends I have met on the internet.  I love peeking into all of your lives and catching a glimpse of what is important to you.  I enjoy hearing the never ending sagas of your families and their comings and goings, their triumphs and setbacks.  I especially love to see how each one of you expresses YOUR creative soul.  I gather delicious recipes and listen to fabulous music I would never have encountered on my own daily rounds.  I hear of mind opening books and authors and have found links to some of the most provocative articles I have had the privilege to share.

 And the art.  The photography alone deserves it's own category in the "art gallery of cyberspace".  Each photo captures a story as well as the essence of it's creators' spirit and heart.  Photographs reaching out into the world, bringing us all together as we are brought into our deepest heart by experiencing the joys of being human on this magnificent planet, one language for all.  Art truly can bridge cultures and differences as the ancient saying "ALL IS ONE" leaps gracefully to life, right here in the 21st century through the magic of technology.

I am constantly inspired by the woman and men who are courageous enough to share their lives, the challenges as well as the joys, with all of us in the blogging community.  In this spirit I am launching a "give away" to say "Thank You" to each and everyone of you dear friends.  Each Wednesday from October 14 until December 16, I will randomly draw the name of one of the readers who left a comment on my blog that week.  The winner will choose from one of my necklaces, a pair of earrings or a set of post cards from my collages.  Of course the more comments you leave, the more chances you have of winning!  Your comments can be on any post, current or past.  This is my small way of saying Thank You.  Thank you for sharing your lives with me.  Your words and your art have touched my heart in more ways than I can say.  Thank you.

Boy Meets World

Last weekend we were at our usual Friday night restaurant in South Bend with friends and family when Stevie showed me a photo of his cousin taken with two playboy bunnies.  Seems his cousin had been invited to the Playboy mansion in LA for a party and had his picture taken with these winsome wenches.   As the story goes,  he actually had a date with one of them the next night.  Needless to say, all of the young (and not so young) men at the table thought it a fabulous good fortune and were busy dreaming of their day in the bunny spotlight.  Stevie (who loves to tease the #$@% out of me) pips up with "Hey Mom!  How about if I bring a couple of bunnies home for Christmas?  Can they sleep in my room with me?"  As we bantered back and forth good-naturedly, it was with a wistful sigh I realized my son is indeed a young man, ready and willing to take his place in the big world.

Earlier this week I was getting one of Stevie's suits ready for the cleaners and a consistent "jiggling" sound thwarted my attempts to empty the pockets.  Finally I slipped my hand into the inside chest pocket in search of the errant "coins."  How surprised was I as I pulled two medals out of Stevie's coat pocket.  One of St. Michael the Archangel and the other of St. John.  Yes, my "little" boy is gone but there is a sensitive and strong young man who has taken his place.  He may dream of Playboy bunnies but he is aware also of a deeper, truer Power, beyond his ego and this materialistic world we live in.

Isn't life funny?  In one hand She is constantly thrashing us with opportunities to "let go" and at the same time Her other hand  gracefully gives us gifts of unspeakable joy.   

Fall Homecoming

It's a blustery fall afternoon here in Chicago.  It's cool and rainy.  Just how I like it.  I have the candles lit and the fireplace roaring.  A pot of spaghetti sauce is simmering away on the stove top.  Everyone is coming home this weekend!  Alex is homesick and coming in on Saturday morning to spend a mere 36 hours with her family and friends.  Coach Weiss has given the football players the weekend off too.  Stevie gets home Friday afternoon.  We have lunches planned and family dinners.  Of course there will be football.  Lots of football.  A fall weekend with the three little birdies all back in the nest.  Momma is a happy camper!

Three for the Road

I am off to South Bend in four hours.  The forecast this weekend is cold and rainy.  While that doesn't bother me as far as football goes, packing 3 women and their luggage into a car that holds two comfortably is going to be a little bit tricky.  Rain gear, sweatshirts, boots, dinner clothes AND backpacks.....Oh My!  Oh well.  I am off to make beds, do bills etc., etc. before we hit the road.  Have a wonderful weekend wherever the road takes you!  Go Irish!*

P.S.  *I just HAVE to put that in!