Day 9 - Mistress Of The Skies

Gossamer clouds dance to the tune of the universe, 

moving across the pink face of the rising full moon. 

Sometimes hiding, 

sometimes revealing, 

sometimes cradling, 

always changing.

Still water, as shiny as herself, 

mirror her yellow face,

doubling her beauty.

Her countenance pales to bright white as she watches 

her domain turn from soft blue to velvety black.

Her duty, to reflect sunlight, is performed masterfully.

* * * * *

My small stone for:

Skywatch Friday, Episode 5, Season 27


Himmelsk # 67

Day 8 - Green Bottle

Green bottle containing red liquid, 

pretty label defining the contents. 

Pouring slowly into the glass. 

Holding the glass by it’s stem. 

Sipping, swirling, 

rolling the flavor around my tongue, 

savoring the aftertaste. 

Light coming in from the side, 

drawing caleidoscoped sparkles
on the table.

A small stone for:

Day 7 - Northern Lights

On a freezing cold winter night, billions of sparkling stars cover the vast span of sky above me. The milky way, like a silvery snow covered highway across the sky. The half moon reflecting the sunlight. The camera is ready on the tripod, my eyes scanning the northern horizon. Shooting at 20 seconds a shot. Jack Frost biting at my fingers every time I press the release button. Then there it is, the green shimmer of Northern Lights. The reward for being patient.

A a small stone for:

Day 6 - Sea Birds

Sea birds bobbing on stormy waters.

Suddenly they take flight,

their little wings working as if 

their lives depended on it.

Which it probably does.

A small stone for:

Day 5 - Nestled

Nestled among trees and rocks, almost in a cove, old house builders sought out the most sheltered spots, hidden from the icy northern winds, and still catching the last rays of the setting sun.

People have lived on this weather beaten
west coast of Norway since the stone age.

My Small Stone for:

Mindful Writing Prompt #27: Mantra

The concept of having a special word for each year is new to me. But since I started moving around in blog world, I've seen that many people practice this. They are simply called word for the year, or mantras. I really like the idea, and have been thinking about it for the last few days. There are so many words, in any language, and among them, so many good ones. 

In November, quite by chance, and before I heard about the River of Stones, I signed up for a class in mindfulness, meditation and yoga. Never having been in touch with any of that before, I didn't know what to expect. What I found was one and a half hour of mindful pause every week. The privilege of spending one and a half hours lying on a mat, snuggled warm under a woolly blanket, learning how to observe my breathing. How to mindfully relax my muscles. Doing exercises that were so gentle that even I could do them. 

Thinking back to those classes, my mantra was self-evident: "Mindful Pause". "Mindful" on the in breath, "pause" on the out breath.

So this is what I commit to in 2012: To take mindful pauses, and to pause mindfully. And by doing so, I hope I will become more aware of the world I live in, both in the big sense and in the small sense. 

Of course I have had moments of mindful pause before, 

without knowing that that's what they were :-)

Mindful Writing Prompt #27

Day 4 - The Wave

The wave looks like a solid wall as it comes rushing towards me. But I know that it is composed of billions of tiny drops of water. Strength in togetherness. It crashes against the rocks, is shattered and dispersed, leaving tiny droplets floating in the air, suspended for a moment before they settle on my face, or fall to the ground. I wipe them off, and they are gone.

A small stone for:

Day 3 - Dark Chocolate

The slowly melting chocolate is fragrant, rich and dark. Stirring, spooning it up, letting it drip back into the mixture. Adding coconut fat and a pinch of sea salt. Then spooning the chocolate mixture over the nuts in the little paper cups with smiley faces on, filling the cups half way up. All done, I lick the spoon.

A small stone for:

Day 2 - Lines and Angles

Every time I go to visit my daughter, the trip includes a 10 mins ferry ride. Waiting in line is a good opportunity to study the surroundings. Looking up into the air, the structure holding the destination signs catches my attention. 

Lines and angles, criss crossing steel, seemingly disordered, going in all directions, and yet contained within a frame, bringing it all together, organized. 

A small stone for:

Day 1 - Clouds

Today is the start of the month long event A River of Stones. The short explanation is: 

1. Notice something properly every day during January.

2. Write it down.  

For a more extensive explanation go to the "River Jan -12" tab at the blog Writing Our Way Home. 

I have never written anything before other than what's on my two other blogs, so this is quite a challenge, but an exciting one. 

Since photography is one of my big passions, I'm adding another challenge of my own. I will also post a photo that in some way illustrates my small stone. It can be a snapshot taken the same day to remind me of my small stone if I don't have the opportunity to write it down immediately, or it can be one from my archives.

* * * * * 

My first Small Stone:

Holes in the fast moving dark grey clouds reveal white clouds behind, and sometimes even a patch of the big blue sky way beyond.

A small stone for: