When my mind is carried away by pain and hurt – which it often is – I have learned that it helps me pause, think, breathe, and wait a bit. If the painful emotion returns, I accept it rather than let it pull me away, hurt me again, or cause me to try to respond in anger.
I understand that I brim over with emotion, and I am learning to acknowledge and deal with it.
Time is a wonderful healer, so the phrase is a cliche; it walks me back to myself. I don’t like to feel angry or hurt or make anyone else feel angry or hurt.
Pain is a part of me, and so is hurt; I don’t want to fight with myself, either. It’s curious, but peaceful breathing makes the pain and hurt disappear. I can’t say why, but it helps me immensely and intensely.
Today, the beautiful photos came in a stream. They are all calming, soothing, and emotional in their way. I hope they break you peace and comfort. Here, beauty is a stream that never dries.
Back to the barn. We embrace rotational grazing here, two hours at a time, different pastures every other day. When Maria returns to the pole barn, the animals follow her.
Our friend Kathy Kelly sent us this tiny flower holder with a plastic tube. We both love it, and I put one of our wildflowers in it last night. It is a still life with emotion.
Zip checks out the world before setting out. Sometimes, he goes to the march, to the parch in front of the house, sometimes in the woods, sometimes in the Dahlia garden, sometimes out in the woods. He has fun; he loves to chase his tail. It seems he is out all night.
Wildflower, African Violet. I’m falling in love with wildflowers. They are not polished, produced, or bred; they just grow up and are themselves. Take it or leave it. They are humble and honest.
Grazing
A new plan in my garden bed, an Iris, one of the first planted for the season.
It’s time to get back to the Pole Barn. It’s time to go to the farmer’s market. Looking closely at the photo, you’ll notice a donkey is following Maria.