Drip Drop

As the Great Wheel Turns . . .

I know I've posted this lovely poem by Mary Oliver before but here at Solstice, it bears repeating . . .

The Summer Day

Who made the world?

Who made the swan and the black bear?

Who made the grasshopper?

This grasshopper, I mean --

the one who has flung herself out of the grass,

the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,

who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down --

who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.

Now she snaps her wings open and floats away.

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down

into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day.

Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

With your one wild and precious life?

Not So Itsy Bitsy Spider

Josie's Flower Window Quilt

As promised yesterday, here are some closeups of the group quilt presented at the shower. It's been in the works since December -- with me hobbling through the fabric store as soon as I was able to walk again and sending out squares of fabric (and threatening messages "For the love of god, don't say you'll participate if you can't get your square in on time...") to friends and family who'd indicated a desire to produce a flower square for the quilt.

Friends and family performed magnificently, executing their chosen flowers in various mediums (counted cross stitch, acrylic, embroidery, and/or applique.) And, for the most part, squares were returned in a timely manner before I had to get really fierce. (In organizing a group quilt, somebody has to be the bitch -- and I can do it.)

Link to more close ups HERE

Unabashed Baby Worship was Going On . . .

photo by Renee

Yesterday my friend Sue and I hosted a shower for Josie at Sue's house. The guest of honor slept through much of it.

photo by Renee

There was lots of food -- with a Southern theme -- cheese biscuits, chicken salad, pimento cheese, black-eyed pea hummus, to mention a few, and three desserts.

And still she slept -- there were any number of willing baby holders.

Photo by Renee

There were presents galore . . .  from a tiny hand-carved wooden spoon to books and stuffed animals, hand knit western wear, several quilts . . . and even a SnotSucker (yes, this is really a thing.)

And then there was The Quilt -- the 'surprise' wall hanging quilt made for Josie by friends and family. (The only surprise would have been if there hadn't been one but we maintain the fiction.)

I'll do another post on The Quilt tomorrow -- with up close pictures.

At last Josie awoke and took some nourishment.

She then stayed awake to entertain her admirers.

She is changing so quickly . . .

More and more personality . . .

HERE's a link to a web album of more photos from the party. (I think it works now -- and I've posted the album separately on Facebook.)

Family Night

John, Josie, Claui

Asher

Josie and Aunt Fay

Lucas and Amelia

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Karma's a Bitch

I got called out by a few people on Facebook yesterday for posting about the shooting in DC and pointing out that Scalise, the Congressman wounded the most severely, was a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, had an A+ rating from the NRA, and had voted to loosen regulations on automatic weapons. 

Oh, the irony! Karma, as I pointed out, is a bitch.

One person said my remarks were in poor taste. Another felt that such remarks only fuel the flames of anger and divisiveness.  Another said it wasn't the gun's fault.

Evidently I should have confined my remarks to praying for and sending good wishes to the injured. But while I certainly am not celebrating this despicable act, I couldn't help but notice that these congressmen who were the targets of the madman with a gun are the same people who resist every effort to rein in the epidemic of gun violence in our country. Indeed, one of them, Rand Paul, tweeted that the 2nd Amendment wasn't about shooting deer but resisting tyranny. 

Of course, that tweet was during the Obama administration. 

But all indications are that resisting tyranny was exactly what the shooter thought he was doing. Funny how that works.   

At least wait till they're out of the hospital, someone else said. Don't politicize this tragedy!

Oh, please! 

This was the 153rd mass shooting of 2017, according to a count by the Gun Violence Archive, a not-for-profit organization that tracks shootings across the country. And while people were fussing about insensitivity and the like, a 154th mass shooting happened in San Francisco. 

Madness. And it's destroying our country. 

I truly hope that the Congressman and the other wounded (an aide, a lobbyist (??!!!???), and a member of the security detail) make a full recovery.

 No one should die at the hands of a deranged gunman -- not kindergartners, not gays, not policemen, not anyone -- including politicians.

And I truly hope that this might be a Come-to-Jesus moment for the Congressional opponents of even the smallest attempts to limit near universal access to automatic weapons.

But I'm not optimistic.

If Sandy Hook wasn't enough to make the Right reconsider their love affair with automatic weapons and their dependence on big donations from the NRA,  I doubt that this will sway them.  

As I said, though, Karma is a bitch. And  eventually she'll bite you in the ass.

Hollyhocks in my Dooryard