It was a productive and interesting weekend. There was a beautiful backdrop to the fall garden. The kale continues to thrive.
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| My favorite tree. |
There was some quality time spent with my sister with an added benefit of hope, love, serenity and inspiration. We went to help celebrate the 23rd Anniversary of the local Peace Pagoda - always an amazing sight, when coming into the clearing from the woods.
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| Not your ordinary sight in the NE woods. |
It was festooned with colorful paper flowers, flags, banners, food, and flowers.
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An altar with food and other offerings had been set up before the Stupa, along with a prayer platform and speaker dais. Regional, national and local Buddhist monks and the Buddhist nun that lives and works at our local pagoda led the progression with chanting and drum beats.
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| Local and regional Buddhist monks and nuns. |
Buddhist prayers celebrating and giving thanks for the pagoda were given first, followed by an amazing and uplifting array of Jewish, Hindu, Catholic and Protestant prayers that included singing, musical instruments and, lastly, a very powerful poem recited by a very powerful poet. The entire ceremony was to promote peace.
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| Buddhist prayers |
Because I had to pick up my frozen raw dog food (what I don't do for them...) which was thawing by the minute, we had to leave early. We did, however, get to listen to a very moving talk by Oren Lyons, Haudenosaunee Faithkeeper, from the Onondaga Nation. We were both very sorry to miss the rest of the program, but there was all that expensive, thawing dog food... Na-Mu-Myo-Ho-Ren-Ge-Kyo.
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| Magnificent beastie. |
Then it was back to the homestead for a hasty lunch of black rice and cumin quinoa and a very short visit. Sunday, I got to check a few things off the list - plant garlic and shallots, re-stack hay, quality time with Juno, rake sheep yard, pawdicures, garden clean-up, bake bread. I find I have gotten a lot more energy back with the dropping leaves and temperatures. The only thing I did not get accomplished was potting the geraniums for over-wintering inside. Since we have a frost/freeze warning tonight, I will wrap them up and hope for the best - as there will be no more time until next weekend!
9 comments:
As usual, you sure do pack a lot into your weekends. Nice you got to spend some time with your sister.
How is Juno doing? Been thinking about that . . .
i got teary reading this as we just celebrated our thanksgiving weekend. thank you for sharing the words and pics...i almost felt like i was there. and then you finish the post with animals,planting, clean up and bread.
st. paul would be jealous!
sending love! your friend,
kymber
What a wonderful way to spend a day. In that setting even the work is cleansing.
Mama Pea - Yes, I try to get as much as possible accomplished so I won't beat myself up on Monday. I love spending time with my sister - she's a dream. I'll have a separate post on Juno soon.
Dear Kymber - It was a very special ceremony. With the autumn skies and cool breezes furling and unfurling those colorful banners, it was mesmerizing even before the wonderful speakers, singers and chants. Happy Belated Thanksgiving! xoxo
Gail - It is a very serene spot. I want to go back without the crowds. The temple is a separate building and it is the most wonderful space. It's so hard to think that promoting peace can be both so uplifting and so dangerous. I don't know that I've ever been in one place with so many special people.
My friend is a buddhist, she has a noticeable inner glow. Spiritual nurturing is something missing from our lives, I think. Although, our life in nature certainly gives us something other folks don't have.
that tree is gorgeous!
The Highland bull made me smile....when I showed cattle in Denver years ago, I used to get them ready to show...it takes forever to blow dry their hair, and show stock always have super long and thick hair. Plus they are fiesty fey creatures! Ach 'tis a grand thing a braw highland bull! Lassie yea paraded a marvelous set of pictures for our jaded senses:)
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