Releasing 2025 with Gratitude, Wisdom and Peace
This post combines November and December. My resistance to the ongoing madness has been and continues to live my yoga by amplifying my creativity with thread, needle and fabric. It’s allowing me to live life in full color and nurture community. Yoga practice and meditations have been intentional and very reflective. And I’m preparing for next phase of Home Place Community Quilting Bee project starting back up February 2026. At the closing of another year, sharing a few photos from these last two months.
November 6 – Last of my garden, a few sweet potatoes, two cucumbers that sprung from the volunteer plant, and a beautiful full moon that night.
November 8 – Strolling through the National Folk Festival in Jackson, MS. Lots to see, but biased towards quilters, especially my friend, Stephany and her niece, a novice quilter.
November 9 – A highlight of cool winter days is seeing Camellias in full bloom.
November 10 – Last Home Place Community Quilting Bee workshop for the year. Finishing quilting hand work with Emi napping near-by on Nov. 27 and December 4 donation to local shelter.
November 15 – Inspirational visit with my friend, Inge, to see and participate in “Again, the Watercarriers: Ceremonies from in the Name of the M/other Tree,” a participatory play held at the Sipp Culture Community Farm in Utica, MS.
December 4 – Sitting at my desk, looking out the window and seeing deer in the back yard.
December 7 – Drove 2 hours with Inge trying to meet up with Walk for Peace monks. Didn’t make it on time for their lunch break, but we stopped on the road to greet them. My visuals aren’t the best because I just wanted to take in the actual experience.
December 10 – Part of living in an ecosystem, especially where there’s water, you discover beaver damage. I’ve never seen a tree chewed up so badly. My trusty trapper, Matt, caught one beaver and to date no more damage. However, the tree will probably die.
Prep for last Cookbook Club Sunday Dinner for the year. Prepared what I call an enchilada casserole. Years ago, I used to lay out individual enchiladas. One lazy day I figured why not just layer the ingredients whole in the pan. My filler has black beans, corn, tomatoes, spices to taste, with ground turkey or not. I grate sharp cheddar cheese with a grater that’s over 50 years old inherited from my mother in-law. At one point, my arms got tired and I did one layer of cut slices. Layers start with filler thinly spread on bottom of pan, then corn tortillas, cheese, then repeat until the filler is all done. Topping is the last of the grated cheese.
December 14 - Last Cookbook Club Sunday Dinner for the year was in-person and virtual. No theme this time around, just a celebratory meet and greet. The Home Place Community Quilting Bee ladies came plus other local friends Thishya, Inge, Cassandra, Essie, and Carlean. The Menu included green salad with roasted butternut squash cubes, cranberries, and chopped pecans; vegetarian casserole (thankfully prepared by Thishya); spicy chicken wings (from ‘not ashamed’ to pay homage to Dodge’s gasoline station and convenience store); black bean and mushroom pie (thankfully prepared by Inge); roasted brussel sprouts; and enchilada casserole. Picture doesn’t show the Martinelli sparkling apple cider and the delicious home-made cherry wine with a smooth kick that Ella distilled and thankfully brought. And unfortunately, we didn’t get a picture of the delicious pound cake that Cassandra thankfully brought. Benita, Pat, and Dianna with Clarence briefly peaking in to say hello joined us virtually. Also, Carlean and Essie left before we took the group picture.
December 21-23 and the Rest of the Month – Taking in the outdoors. Besides geese, one Blue Heron, and one White Egret, Black Bellied Whistling Ducks have discovered the pond and my bridge.
On a sad note, we lost my sister in-law, Betty, very early Christmas morning. She and my brother, Sidney, were together for 51 years. So very grateful that I got to share Thanksgiving with them in Houston this year.
On this day before my 72nd rotation around the sun, blessings to everyone and always remember to do what’s best to nurture you, family, friends and your community. Peace, wisdom, gratitude be with us all.