Holding

Back into my forest after many days away.  Felt the same deep sadness in the woods as on my last visit.

As I rested against a hemlock, a spiderweb on a nearby tree wafted slowly back and forth in the breeze, in and out of the afternoon sunlight.  Shining, then invisible, then shining again.

The web looked at once so whispy and so self-assured against the massive trunk of the tree: the ephemeral anchored to the eternal.

The Gathering

Gathered last weekend with friends old and new to share the ancient, more gentle ways of living on the earth.  So many delicious moments to savor, so many precious new friends in my life.  How swiftly we can work our way into one another's hearts when we gather in shared passion, shared playfulness, shared devotion to this earth.

Making a berry basket for my littles under the tutelage of a sweet old friend.

 My girl gave the unfinished basket a test run with the local autumn olive berries.

My boy's annual archery fix.  Each time he and the other archers would go to gather their arrows from the target range together, he walked purposefully beside them rather than running ahead to find his arrows, which is his wont.  Shoulders squared, chest up, it was clearly so nourishing to him to be participating directly with the adults. 

Dolly's makeover while sitting around the breakfast fire.

My bow drill set, getting some much needed use.

Got an ember going with the friction of the spindle on the fireboard:

Preparing to tuck the ember into the tinder bundle:

Covering the ember with the tinder bundle and...

...flipping the whole thing over so the ember falls inside in one piece.

Slowly closing the tinder bundle around the ember to feed it.  Then lifted it up to blow gently on it.

And we have fire!