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Down · the · Garden · Path · . · . · .
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I have no idea how to link this journal to a gallery, but there is a gallery wherever galleries are called "garden harvest 06," and in it are some wonderful and sometimes quite zany pictures that Philip took of Annmarie, Alisha and me in the garden this evening. They're WONDERFUL! And I'm sending them to HL Meredith, who has been waiting forever for something like them, so that she can publish the articles I wrote for her lo these many months ago. In the meantime, enjoy! |
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I woke early this morning, after a night filled with nightmares that all had to do with deaths I couldn't stop, to the news on the radio about the war going on the middle east (and yes, I think we need to call it a war, and not merely "unrest," which seems rather a horrendous euphemism).
In the face of this, and of the kinds of natural disasters that governments turn into needless human tragedies by simple lack of action (such as the tsunami in Indonesia last week), I have set my watch alarm for 6:30 pm.
At 6:30 tonight and every night until it seems less necessary, I will be sitting on my living room floor praying, meditating, spellcasting, directing energy, asking the divine for assistance--all these things seem to me directly related to each other, so call them what you will--with the intent of spreading peace in the world.
I can't do much, but I can do that.
I would also invite anyone near me, who happens to be around at 6:30 any night this week at least (and perhaps longer) to drop by and join me if you can. Like I said, I'll be in the living room. Just walk in--the door will be unlocked.
I would also encourage anyone who *can't* come by, or for whom the time is not convenient, to choose a time that is (or to simply become mindful of the situation and send a constant flow of energy, or prayer--whatever you call it), and do the same.
It takes a single candle to light the darkness; but the more candles we have, the lighter it gets. If you wish to pass this encouragement along, please feel free to copy and post it to your own LJ, or listserv, or whatever.
Namaste. . . |
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To all the wonderful Hartwood Dancers: You ROCKED at the Midsummer Daydream Dance last night. It looks wonderful. I'll see you all on Saturday!! |
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My new windows are here! Now I need to follow up on the heat-pump guys, and get the carpenter to come and put some insulation in the basement . . . I may even Not Freeze this winter! Hooray! |
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One of the things I'm doing for the FABULOUS Midsummer Daydreams Event (for which six of us, including Tilley and Valentine, have flower crowns now!) is printing out and putting up in the garden a selecton of poems (sonnets etc) from around Shakespeare's time. I'm taking orders, so get your votes in now for your favourite Renaissance love poem! |
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As everyone knows, the great poet Anonymous wrote most of the best stuff worth reading. Apparently, Anonymous paid me a house call and rearranged the magnetic poetry on my fridge! (Anonymous does this every so often . . .) But this one was so beautiful, I wanted to post it here--and then let Anonymous un-anon and take credit (or just email me) because it just made my day!
Here's the poem:
secret blue
misty eternity
delicate languid bloom
exotic earthy tendrils
murmur |
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Apparently, I was asleep when I wrote the posting about the Midsummer Daydreams Event! The date is the feast of Good St. John: June 24 (Saturday) Come one, come all--and we'll see you there!! |
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Join us in Hartwood for a Magical Midsummer's Daydream!
At this season of the year, as the sun reaches its strongest point and the season of ripening begins, growth is at its peak . . . and so is magic. The Midsummer season inspired William Shakespeare to write one of his best-known plays, filled with dreams, mysticism, love knots, fairies, games, dance, song, and adventures into a green world at once familiar and strange.
Inspired by the season and the Bard himself, we will celebrate all the magic of Midsummer while we daydream in the garden and Puck causes all sorts of mischief.
Come dressed as your favourite character from A Midsummer Night's Dream, or come as yourself! But be prepared to laugh, play, court your love, wander down the garden path, and immerse yourself in the magic of the day.
**THERE WILL BE A PRIZE FOR THE BEST FAIRY COSTUME!!**
Tentative schedule:
2:00 pm
Site Opens
All Afternoon:
Billets Doux/Love Notes: Write a letter to your love (we'll have a Random Renaissance Compliment Generator to help you with this) and have one of our fairy helpers deliver it for you . . . Remember, this is the one day of the year that you can see them!
**THERE WILL BE A PRIZE FOR THE BEST LOVE (OR FRIENDSHIP) LETTER IN VERSE!! WRITE A POEM, AND WIN A PRIZE!!**
A Wicker Man: Tie your wishes to this traditional symbol of good luck and fertility, and although bylaw restrictions won't allow us to burn it in a bonfire, you can be assured that the wishes will ascend anyhow . . . to whatever deity will grant them for you.
Make a flower crown: If you haven't been able to before the event, you will (for a small fee!) on site--and we'll help you do it at gate!
Wander down the garden path: tour the garden, woo your lover, and read the love sonnets carefully placed around the site to put you in the mood . . .
Random Readings: Watch for mysterious ladies and gentlemen who appear to read or recite songs and sonnets about the season, romance, and true love lost and found . . .
3:00
Games, games, games . . .
- A Kubb tournament!
- A Boules Tournament
- Tierce
- Prisoner's Base
- Any other games you can think of, or bring with you . . .
5:00
Potluck Dinner
The potluck will be organized so that we don't have 30 gallons of rice pudding and nothing else! (though I'm sure Edd wouldn't find anything wrong with that . . .)
So please let me know ahead of time what you're planning to bring--even if you can just categorize it as one of the following:
Main course (meat based)
Main course (vegetarian)
(These can include finger foods)
Salad or veggies
Bread and/or spread
Dessert
Beverage
6:30
Dance
Dance in the great outdoors, in the cool of the evening, with the grass beneath your feet. Learn a new dance written especially for the day . . .
8:00
Bardic
Come sing, tell tales, recite poetry, and indugle your spirit in the mystical magic of the shortest night of the year (well, almost. we're a bit late).
**THE THEME IS FAIRIES! THERE WILL BE A PRIZE FOR THE BEST TOLD (OR SUNG) FAIRYTALE OR FAIRY STORY!!**
Site Info:
Fee: $2 per person (Max. $10/family)
Aine's House:
676 Beaconsfield Rd.
Nanaimo, BC
Site is discreetly wet--make sure you have a safe way home, or I'll confiscate your keys! :)
Directions:
From the parkway, take EXIT 18 (stay on the parkway and don't go to downtown Nanaimo!).
Exit 18 becomes Third St.; you will see the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre on your right.
Turn LEFT at the traffic light onto Wakesiah Ave.
Turn RIGHT a block later onto Beaconsfield Rd.
676 is the second-last house on the left hand side. |
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I just wanted to say a special thanks to those folks who have been there for me over the last while, especially over the last two days, for listening and sympathizing. It's not been a great couple of days, but you guys (and you know who you are!) have made it liveable. That, and escaping to Coombs for the day. I promise I'll still have copy for Midsummer Daydreams up by the end of the weekend--and Monday is movie night instead of garb night (though anyone who wants help measuring to decide how much material to buy, can get help with that too). I've had 3 votes for the Callista Flockheart Midsummer Night's Dream, and two for the BBC (more textually accurate) MND. We'll also be making floral head garlands, so be there!
Current Mood: |
 distressed | |
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Quick! Stick your head out the window, or run out the door, and just breathe! You can't buy that kind of joy. June smells wonderful. |
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Far be it from me to stop the going craze! These are pretty interesting questions too . . . Leave me your name and:
1. I'll respond with something random about you
2. I'll challenge you to try something
3. I'll pick a color that I associate with you
4. I'll tell you something I like about you
5. I'll tell you my first/clearest memory of you
6. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of
7. I'll ask you something I've always wanted to ask you
8. If I do this for you, you must post this on yours |
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So, in Alice in Wonderland, when Alice says she doesn't know where to begin to tell her story, the Queen of Hearts responds with this little gem: "begin at the beginning, go on until you get to the end, and then stop." This is the beginning, and I'm really not sure what I'm doing here! . . . except to note that future updates will likely include stuff going on in the garden, stuff going on with the animals, stuff going on with A&S, and so on . . . I've never been much for journals! But I've been convinced that this is the "in" thing to do, and heaven forfend that I lose my status as cutting edge "IT" girl (peals of laughter here!).
Current Mood: |
 confused | |
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aineinthegarden's journal