Thirteenth day: Rediscovery

3:30 pm

Barefeet today, celebrating the 70s we enjoyed.

Lawnmower working during my sit, rendering me essentially deaf for the duration, which helped me to focus on my physical sensations and my vision.  Felt exposed in the tree with the lawnmowing nearby, standing on the limb in daylight.  Experimented with different sitting/standing positions to find some cover amongst the branches.  So different from the other night, when I felt so hidden and secure.

Wove my way through the tiny forest behind our house and our neighbors' houses on my "different way home."  Rarely go through these woods, as they extend behind our neighbors' houses and I like to support their privacy, so it was a treat to have the excuse to explore them today.  Delighted to discover a small stand of false solomon's seal, and gathered some of the feathers of a favorite hen I lost to a predator a couple of weeks ago.

Approaching my house from the wrong side of our fence, I found myself channeled around the garage to the front door rather than up the deck to the back door where I usually enter the house after my sits.  Something about coming to the house in this way prompted me to visit my sparse and wildly overgrown front garden, which happens to be the only place that perennial flowers are safe from children and marauding poultry.  I rarely visit this part of my yard as I am usually accompanied by one or both of my little ones, and this garden is too near the fast road we live on.  But today, I sat down next to it, pulled some weeds, and noticed with a bit of awe how much color was in it already, thanks to the spreading violets and grape hyacinth.  The sage, oregano, blue flags, and lilies that I have managed to throw in the garden over the few years we've lived in this house are growing strong, despite being surrounded by wild plants.

I was filled with the serenity of having a flower garden to sit beside and tend, a pleasure which I have not known for a few years now.  These quiet moments today, of tender awakening to and appreciation of this lovely place on the earth, the beauty and nurturing possible in this one spot, was one of the best parts of mother's day for me.  Thank you for the suggestion to take a different way home, which is the path that led me to this discovery.