Surviving March Madness (and Not Talking About Basketball)!
Gave myself grace all this month to create from my spirit and nurture my soul during these most challenging times. As March closes out a few of those moments are shared.
The Three Blessings Yoga Farm & Wellness Center website was launched with a new look and updated offerings. Also, started working with the Third Ward Zen board on the Delta Roots Festival 2025.
Walks with Emi
Daily walks in the neighborhood, along the levee, or in the nearby Cypress Preserve were a good thing.
An Artistic Addition
New outside art piece was added to the garden. I’d had the top and bottom sections for years; bought them at a World Market or somewhere like that way back when in Maryland. A local artist, Lauren Bostic, took them and added a third middle piece made from farm equipment to create the finished sculpture. Since I think in 3s, the fact that she created a 3-part piece says, again, that the Universe speaks to me.
March 6th
The first daffodil bloomed in the garden. And by mid-March the peach tree and pear tree planted last year had blossoms.
March 16th
Much to my chagrin it was too cloudy to see the total lunar eclipse aka blood moon. But three nights later, a full moon shone brightly in the night sky.
March 11th - March 22nd
Last year I started seeds in January in my greenhouse. While away on a trip, the temperature dropped to freezing and I lost them all. Hopefully not to be thwarted by Mother Nature, this year I started seeds on March 11. Five days later, if you looked really close, you could begin to see seedlings curling up and by March 22 full blown seedlings of cantaloupe, cucumbers, beets, and carrots were spreading their wings.
Mailing Mishap
One disappointment has been ordering heirloom seeds and observing on the Post Office tracking system how the package arrived in Memphis on March 15, sat there until March 27 and I got the seeds today. Sowed them in the greenhouse immediately.
Turning to my art quilting side, one happy note was being selected to exhibit in the Greenville Arts Council 11th Juried Biennial Invitational. Sixty-five artists from all over Mississippi submitted 170 entries. The judge chose 54 art pieces by 38 artists, and I was among them. My Queen Mother Indigo Wisdom art quilt was selected.
While I didn’t win anything, I was very pleased to be selected in my first competitive juried invitational. It was a wonderful show, and I met a nice group of artists and supporters.
Wilson Lee, a wood carver, won a Merit Award, but I thought he should have gotten at least 2nd or 3rd place. His work was beautiful. I should have taken more pictures but too busy looking at all the artwork and talking to folks. Thanks to Belinda Bowdre, a local artist I met for the first time, who took a picture of me and my piece.
Last Sunday, I participated in Love Letters – A Community Quilting Party at the Mississippi Museum of Art. L’Merchie Frazier, a fiber artist, educator, poet extraordinaire, led this quilting bee event in response to the Of Salt and Spirit exhibit. Although I didn’t quite follow instructions and did my own thing, it was lots of fun and I learned some new techniques. All of our quilting squares will be combined by L’Merchie to create a community art quilt piece. I can’t wait to see it.
Photos: 1-2, L'Merchie's work; 3-4, my quilt squares; 5, L'Merchie's example of what quilt squares w/ focus square box should look like; 6, my squares not following directions; 7, me and L'Merchie. Thanks to Kenya Rachal, a fellow quilter, who took photos 6-7.
In Closing
As, it rains today and through the weekend, thoughts from Elizabeth Markevitch come to mind. She says the opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation and the most rebellious thing you can do is create. During these times, I choose creating something as an act of rebellion to the madness going on. Creativity through taking care of myself, growing food, yoga, art and being an example to others is my resistance.
“The opposite of war isn’t peace,
it’s creation and the most rebellious thing you can do
is create.”
-Elizabeth Markevitch
Until next month, peace and love, y’all.
