After the Snow

I see baby buds strain
against the tension -
shiny, tight, pink skins pursue
growth. Winter's wood resists,
unsure of being split
open like this -

she can't remember
the joyous juices running
warm last spring.

Trade Ins

I had sent a link of Mike Rowe's Ted Talk to our friend, Kevin. He replied, "Thank you for that. It makes me wish I was 25 again and had a life do over... Not really, but I often wonder what the future holds. Mike says the tools of today are what we carry around with us and I suspect that’s true - but what do I do with them? My iPhone makes a lousy hammer." 

His last juicy steak of a line made me perk up. What a prompt. This poem popped into my head.....





My iPhone Makes a Lousy Hammer

there’s no satisfying thud

as it hits it’s mark

no contact with iron

pounding into wood 

no gratifying muscle-work

balancing a weighted tool

no finished piece to use 
or gift to generously give 

there's nothing to leave 
my maker's mark on 

nowhere to say 
this was made by me.  

Mike recommended Matthew Crawford's Shop Class As Soulcraft, which Craig and I enjoyed so much on Audible that we bought the hard copy also. He has another book out now called The World Beyond Our Head which I'm in the middle of reading. 

Another book I'm simultaneously pairing with it is Wonderland by Steven Johnson....

Supplication

Loverby's

hard

huge

strong 

trustworthy

hands 

hold

comfort

give

nourish

nurture 

caress

untangle

massage

minister 

love

help

serve

fix

and

anchor

me

I

willingly 

place 

myself 

there

in 

the 

palm 

of 

these 

hands 

Plaster of Paris Mold - Slip Cast Sculpture of Craig Overby's Hands - 

Taught by George Lowe - Village Potter - Holden Village - 2016 

Elsa

Elsa is my first ever sculpture. She is about about 24 inches tall. Red, gritty clay. Turbaned. Pensive.

Holden Village Pottery Studio - 2016 

With Gratitude to the Village Potter, George Lowe 

Historic Silver City and Bruneau Canyon - Idaho

Road Trip - November 2016  

Fire

Prayer for Dick Staub

This poem by Mark Nepo, from his book Reduced to Joy - 
is for Dick Staub - who I've always thought of by his real 
name, Richard the Lionhearted. I selfishly pray you regain 
your health, for we can't imagine our world without you in it. 

For Joel at 94

They say that miners in South America
strap small lamps around their chest, that
this works better than the light coming
from the center of your head.

They say the head can be fooled,
but the heart can’t turn without
the body. This makes me think of you
digging your way through your long life,
lighting everything with your heart.

It’s a good way to live. And when we
sit at the end of the day, our hearts
illumine the day and we see each other
in its radiance. I can tell, it reminds you
of many circles you’ve been a part of.
It’s a good way to measure time.

To make our way on Earth
by the light coming from our heart —
This is what you’ve taught us.

Is it any wonder that what you
touch, including us, glows.

Making Good Beer From Scratch

Craig, Terry, Seth, and George malt their own barley, roast their own crystal and chocolate, use real hops picked local. They've made many batches of really good beer from scratch - from classic pale ales to dark stouts with roasted cacao and espresso beans. I'm learning to like beer. It is fun to watch the process.

Making Good Beer From Scratch is written by our own renaissance man, Terry Sanderson. 

Holden Village - 2016 

Beautiful Hands

Ruth Playing Harp - Holden Village - October 2016 

Possibilities

Wind is blowing 

up the channel

chasing the fog

and scouring 

the clutter in my 

mind, making room

for probable 

possibles.