In honor of National Poetry Month, and Mary Oliver, our beloved national poet who passed away in January, I will be posting one of her poems each evening in April. I am hoping to follow in the footsteps of Sarah Clarkson and read a poem on Instagram Live in the evenings as well…Follow me on Instagram to tune in.
To Begin With, the Sweet Grass (I am spreading this poem, which is in seven sections, throughout the week.)
4.
Someday I am going to ask my friend Paulus,
the dancer, the potter,
to make me a begging bowl
which I believe
my soul needs.
And if I come to you,
to the door of your comfortable house
with unwashed clothes and unclean fingernails,
will you put something into it?
I would like to take this chance,
I would like to give you this chance.
This poem can be found in the collection Evidence.
I just had the most painful back pain episode of my life! I was at the gym this past Sunday morning, walking on the treadmill, when I felt a tightness and pain in my upper left back/shoulder area. Attempting to ease it out, I stretched a bit and thought I’d just keep going. About ten minutes later a pain like nothing I’ve ever experienced started stabbing me in that same spot. I couldn’t breathe without extreme pain and nothing would stop it. Somehow I managed to get myself out of the gym and drive home, crying all the way.
Alan massaged my back, got me some ibuprofen, and had to help me shower and dress–it was that debilitating! I laid flat for most of the day, and could only take shallow breaths. At dinner time, I went downstairs determined to help myself, made a list of analgesic, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory essential oils, and made myself Daytime and Nighttime Roll-on Blends.
Alan applied the Nighttime Blend after dinner. I didn’t feel any better and took ibuprofen around 9:30pm. I was crying in pain by 11, so he applied the Nighttime Blend and massaged my back again. At 5AM I woke up and felt quite a bit better, fell back asleep and woke at 9:15AM to way less pain and much more mobility without pain. No ibuprofen all Monday, just a massage and the Daytime Blend!
Although I’m going to take it easy for the rest of the week, I am thrilled that the pain and stiffness have been reduced this much. I will have the doctor take a look at my back and hopefully I can get some physical therapy soon.
So here are the blends in case you want to re-create them for yourself to have on hand for extreme pain situations.
Daytime Pain Relief Blend: In a 10ml roller bottle, 10 drops Clary Sage, 7 drops Rosemary, 7 drops Laurel, 10 drops Sweet Marjoram, and 11 drops Spike Lavender, and fill the bottle with Calendula oil or a carrier oil of your choice
Nighttime Pain Relief Blend: In a 10 ml roller bottle, 11 drops Clary Sage, 7 drops German Chamomile, 5 drops Frankincense, 7 drops Black Spruce, 15 drops Lavender
(Disclaimer: The information contained in this post does not take the place of medical advice and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or ailment. If you are in pain, see your healthcare provider.)
In honor of National Poetry Month, and Mary Oliver, our beloved national poet who passed away in January, I will be posting one of her poems each evening in April. I am hoping to follow in the footsteps of Sarah Clarkson and read a poem on Instagram Live in the evenings as well…Follow me on Instagram to tune in.
To Begin, With the Sweet Grass ( This poem is in seven sections, so I am going to include one section each evening during the week.)
3.
The witchery of living
is my whole conversation
with you, my darlings.
All I can tell you is what I know.
Look, and look again.
This world is not just a little thrill for the eyes.
It’s more than bones.
It’s more than the delicate wrist with its personal pulse.
It’s more than the beating of a single heart.
It’s praising.
It’s giving until the giving feels like receiving.
You have a life–just imagine that!
You have this day, and maybe another, and maybe
still another.
This poem can be found in the collection Evidence.
I knew when I saw the cover of Denise Uwimana’s book From Red Earth: A Rwandan Story of Healing and Forgiveness that it would be a weighty read. Although I’ve heard missionaries talk about the Rwandan genocide, of the hateful, horrible violence and desolation the small East African country experience, it was only in general overviews. I’ve never read the first-hand account of someone who survived it, and even more incredible–someone who has been able to forgive the perpetrators of these horrific crimes.
Having read many Christian biographies and autobiographies to my kids during the years we homeschooled, I was pleasantly surprised to find this book is as well-written and captivating as a good novel.
The author does such a wonderful job describing her surroundings in the town of Bugarama, creating a sense of danger and foreboding, and she vividly recounted her childhood in such a way that I was transported through the story along with her. And even more importantly, I quickly felt a sense of connection with her.
Denise’s personal thoughts and feelings, that she generously shared with readers throughout the book, gave a beauty and individuality to the story, and invested me as a reader.
What she, and the Tutsi people of Rwanda experienced during the hundred days of genocide is unimaginable, horrible violence, pain, and grief. The fact that the international community did nothing to stop it is unthinkable and shameful. The descriptions of barbaric, hateful atrocities that humans committed against fellow humans are difficult to read, to take in, but necessary to remember in the hopes of preventing history repeating itself.
The second half of the book focuses on what happened after the violence. Denise wrote how she and the people who survived began to process what had been done to them and to their loved ones. So much grief, pain, anger, and hopelessness permeated their hearts and minds. Many had no home, no family, no land and seemingly, no future.
As time passed, Denise gradually found healing and was miraculously able to forgive her enemies. She began working to help other survivors to find healing. Eventually, this became her full-time work: to help widows of the genocide toward recovery and restoration.
I believe everyone should know what happened in Rwanda, even those of us who live far away and may never visit. We need to be reminded of the cruelty that is possible in humanity, and that we are not immune to it no matter how much we think we are.
Reading this book provides us with a first-hand account of the Rwandan genocide; more importantly, though, the message of hope, healing, and restoration that shines through this story is one that the world also needs to hear. I highly recommend this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Plough Publishing, but all opinions are completely my own!
In honor of National Poetry Month, and Mary Oliver, our beloved national poet who passed away in January, I will be posting one of her poems each evening in April. I am hoping to follow in the footsteps of Sarah Clarkson and read a poem on Instagram Live in the evenings as well…Follow me on Instagram to tune in.
To Begin, With the Sweet Grass(This poem is in seven sections, so I am going to spread it out through the week.)
2.
Eat bread and understand comfort.
Drink water, and understand delight.
Visit the garden where the scarlet trumpets
are opening their bodies for the hummingbirds
who are drinking the sweetness, who are
thrilling gluttonous.
For one thing leads to another.
Soon you will notice how stones shine underfoot.
Eventually tides will be the only calendar you believe in.
And someone’s face, whom you love, will be as a star
both intimate and ultimate,
and you will be both heart-shaken and respectful.
And you will hear the air itself, like a beloved, whisper:
oh, let me, for a while longer, enter the two
beautiful bodies of your lungs.
This poem can be found in the collection Evidence.
Here is a reprise of my weeknight mealtime go-to. I’m Italian-American and no matter what diet fads come and go, I’m never giving up pasta. Mine is gluten-free, of course, and drowned in Marinara. (Thisis my favorite brand.) It is such a fast, easy recipe, there is no need to purchase that sorry excuse for pasta sauce from the market ever again!!!
Processed with VSCO with c1 preset
This sauce can be made in about 15 minutes, start to finish, which is probably quicker than it’ll take your pasta water to boil. When I’m feeling tired, lazy, or like I need some comfort, I make this recipe. Pasta, salad, vegan meatballs from Minimalist Baker (or your favorite store bought version), and dinner is on the table.
It’s also great to dip pieces of gluten-free bread sticks, or vegan meatballs into at a party. I served gluten-free focaccia from Sarah Bakes Gluten Freeand vegan meatballsfrom Minimalist Baker with a bowl of Marinara at this year’s Super Bowl Party, and all of our meat/dairy/gluten-eating friends couldn’t get enough!!!
Easy Marinara Sauce
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4-6 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1/2 cup of water, approximately
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon dried oregano, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1-2 tablespoons brown sugar
2-4 tablespoons unsweetened non-dairy milk, such as almond (optional)
2-4 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil, chopped (optional)
In a thick-bottomed pot on medium heat, heat the olive oil, add garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds until it turns golden, stirring and watching it carefully to prevent burning.
Add water and stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any garlic that might be sticking.
Add tomatoes and the salt through milk, and bring to a simmer, stirring gently to combine. Simmer for 10-15 minutes and remove from heat.
Adjust seasonings. Add fresh herbs if desired.
Notes and Options:
This lasts for about a week to ten days in the fridge.
It can also be frozen and thawed for a later time.
Feel free to add dried fennel, basil, thyme, or other dried herbs you prefer.
In honor of National Poetry Month, and Mary Oliver, our beloved national poet who passed away in January, I will be posting one of her poems each evening in April. I am hoping to follow in the footsteps of Sarah Clarkson and read a poem on Instagram Live in the evenings as well…Follow me on Instagram to tune in.
To Begin With the Sweet Grass( I am going to spread this poem, which is in seven sections, over this whole week.)
1.
Will the hungry ox stand in the field and not eat
of the sweet grass?
Will the owl bite off its own wings?
Will the lark forget to lift its body in the air or
forget to sing?
Will the rivers run upstream?
Behold, I say–behold
the reliability and the finery and the teachings
of this gritty earth gift.
This poem can be found in the collection Evidence.
In honor of National Poetry Month, and Mary Oliver, our beloved national poet who passed away in January, I will be posting one of her poems each evening in April. I am hoping to follow in the footsteps of Sarah Clarkson and read a poem on Instagram Live in the evenings as well…Follow me on Instagram to tune in.
In honor of National Poetry Month, and Mary Oliver, our beloved national poet who passed away in January, I will be posting one of her poems each evening in April. I am hoping to follow in the footsteps of Sarah Clarkson and read a poem on Instagram Live in the evenings as well…Follow me on Instagram to tune in.
This is where I will share my sources of inspiration from the past week: it could be from books, podcasts, blogs, films, artwork, food/recipes, etc. I hope you find some encouragement here as well!
Recipes:
Moon and Spoon and Yum is a gorgeous website with absolutely stunning photography and plenty of Kim-friendly recipes. I tried two of her recipes over the weekend that I really enjoyed: Lavender, Ginger, and Walnut Shortbread Cookies and a Moon Milk Recipe . Olive and Mango has been posting some Greek–inspired dishes on Instagram that I am going to try in the next week or so. Her mouthwateringly lovely posts have me looking at photos of Greek islands, and dreaming of traveling there to enjoy the light and color and beauty of a Mediterranean country.
Blogs:
This was a post called “Tips for Easing Inflammation”from Lotuswei, a flower essences company I recently discovered and love. They have their own podcast, The FlowerLounge, hosted by Lotuswei founder, Katie Hess, which is a fascinating foray into the world of flower essences and the natural lifestyle.
Podcasts:
Jenna Kutcher’sThe Goal Digger Podcast had two incredibly helpful and encouraging podcast episodes this week: HIT RECORD: Tips to Incorporate Video TODAY, which is nudging me toward video content planning and development for the next few weeks. I’ve been doing a few Live videos each week, but I’ve mostly been ignoring Stories on my Instagram accounts because, like lots of people, I think my life is too boring and I don’t have anything interesting to say. But I am missing out on the latest way to connect with my audience. Her second episode, How to Pivot When You’re No Longer Passionatewas great because Jenna shared how she’s changed her business several times in the past ten years, as she changed and outgrew different business models.
And Rachel Hollis interviewed the CEO of it Cosmetics on her podcast in this episode:Building a BILLION Dollar Company with Jamie Kern Lima. If you’re an entrepreneur, you know how I might be feeling in year two of my journey. I will have a positive week, when all I’m doing to market and share my message and products seems like it might work. People might come to a class, buy my stuff, make an appointment for a consultation. And then there are the weeks when it seems like no matter what I do, nothing moves forward.
The women in this podcast episode remind me that everyone goes through this. There are pretty much no overnight business and entrepreneurial success stories. After listening to this episode, I realized I’m on the right track, and that if I’m making progress the path will be uphill all the way, as John Maxwell says.
And because I need this encouragement right now, and maybe you do too, I loved Todd Henry’s interview with Austin Kleonon The Accidental Creative Podcast. The title is How To Keep Going and had some very helpful words from Austin Kleon who just released his third book Keep Going. One thing he said that stuck with me is how people tend to think their career will be a slow rise and they’ll just keep going up, when in fact it’s more like a spiral. Yes! In my short time as an entrepreneur, that is my experience. Highs and Lows. It’s normal and it’s ok!
Articles:
Beloved British folk singer Kate Rusby shared this on her Facebook page a few weeks ago. It’s an article in the Guardian, written by fifty different authors, called “Something To Celebrate: 50 Favourite Places in the UK”. The music and arts festival she founded, Underneath the Stars Festival, is number 2 on the list. This time of year, when the weather is mostly still cold and the landscape is wearing drab tones of brown, I like to dream of all the places I want to visit. The UK can be cold and dreary too, I know, but Spring is a bit further along this time of year, at least in England. Anyway, if you’re interested in the British Isles, you will enjoy this read.
Books:
Show Your Work by Austin Kleon is the second book he wrote for creatives. In it, he shares how to connect with your audience, why behind the scenes/the process of art is fascinating to people, and why you need to just keep putting work out there. I just read it so I can move on to his third book Keep Going.
Life of Kim 