  | I feel like a lot of these posts could use the phrase, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Seems to be a life theme here. This Little Library has had quite a journey from East 10th Street to Tim and Julie's Another Fine Mess and onward to our New Augusta proper. I like to imagine how many stories it has held and shared. How many more will it share? Do the books taste yummy as they wait there in the belly of the beast? Not unlike those stories, this one unfolds in a divinely orchestrated way. As most adventures in current life and times, this one starts with answering a facebook ad. The FREE Little Library that no one wanted once they found out how heavy it really was! We were so far down on the list I never thought we would get the call. Several weeks later with one borrowed truck, one helpful husband, two additional handy men, three directors of location, an artist and some sweat equity, we were able to fix this guy up. Then we planted him right next to our new neighbors Autism Companion Services. Swing by and check it out! This generous community will always have plenty of books, art, music and movies to share. |
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 Being an artist teaches me a lot about being okay with messes... AND creating beauty out of "mistakes." I had to realize this is my way, my Medicine. My house will always be decently clean but the truth is I LIVE here. REALLY LIVE here so there is a project going somewhere all the time (and two dogs, two guinea pigs and a kitty live here with us too.) I take up space and I no longer carry negative feelings about this. I hope when you visit you feel warm and embraced by a creative processes happening all around you. I am not even going to edit or stylize these photos. It is just like this - in some version - all the time. It makes me feel fully alive and present to the incredible and simple beauty all around us. The bowl pictured is a perfect example of all of this. This bowl was off centered, misshapen, probably many would have scrapped it. Sometimes I feel like this. In my heart, I knew it just needed a little nudge, a little direction and creative problem solving. Now I LOVE this piece!! It is okay to make space in your life for the artistic part of yourself... whatever that looks like. The world greatly needs it! On that note, I feel like I don't get to say this enough... my life partner is AMAZING! He loves me just as I am and embraces our version of home fully despite his desire for minimalism. He says, at least my "look ats" are rocks and art, so, it's not so bad. I don't know what I did to call this guy into my life but I am a very LUCKY person!  Teaching Dad about throwing pots on the wheel. (Rental from Ripple Mobile Arts)
 A gift this week from Mother Earth... Huitlacohe, Corn Smut, fungus Ustilago maydis... has enchanted our garden corn. Huitlacoche first caught my eye many moons ago when a friend who recently moved to South America shared of this rare find in their new garden. She mentioned the delicacy and rarity of this anomaly. I remember seeing the photo and thinking, she is so brave, I would not eat that! Fast forward several months to now, during my garden walk. Imagine my surprise, when I see this very same anomaly growing amongst the corn! It feels in my heart like a blessing and a gift. So, being a curious human, I begin several google searches to learn more about this new to me being. I remember a teaching from my acupuncturist regarding plants that show up in your garden and how they are often volunteers to heal you. The ancient Aztecs also believed in the mystical effects of this spore. The call on my heart to cook this being up with much gratitude and appreciation won over my fear of something new... and rather black... it was DELISH!!
Corn smut cooked w/butter, salt & eggs - served w/tomatoes & green onions on corn tortillas. (left) Garden tomatoes & pea seeds (right)
 Sometimes we are blessed with an opportunity, a home, a responsibility... here is a piece of ours... This sweet home holds many stories and so much Magic! As time has gone on it has become clear that this sweet barn needs some help, the kind of help only a willing human can bring. These walls speak of times long before ours on this land. These walls also need a lot of support. There have been times the job assisting this barn has felt overwhelming. There have been times we have just wanted to ignore the ever growing need for attention. The funny thing about that path is, well... what needs attention can not be ignored for long. We struggled to find viable solutions from online vendors and box stores... THEN we remembered! The Latina's Welding Guild!! While at RUCKUS Makerspace I was able to take a course with this guild and see the ripe talent of these women. So, we drew up some plans and the guild made it happen! I continue to be amazed at what the Indianapolis Community has to offer. Every problem has a solution backed by a human following their passion. I don't know about you, but it makes my heart soar to see a person living out their passion and making a difference in their community. Read more about Consuelo's dream here:
 When my head is full or my patience is wearing out... I seek the Water. Mni Wiconi, truly our Earth life's blood, brings me back to my heart. Sometimes I even remember to go before I need it. Sometimes I find connection with the life force of water in the bath tub of my own home. What a gift! I hope I have passed this centering tool on to our son. Today we adventured to Cataract Falls. On this venture I noticed how my body had trouble staying balanced as we crossed the river. My son even came and offered his hand. This warmed my heart and this also told me about how out of center I had allowed myself to get. Also, I really didn't wear the right shoes! On this adventure day we remembered how to laugh and find bugs and ask questions. I am grateful for these moments in life.
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AuthorVictoria Williams Steen, another human, here for a blink, sharing experiences, stories and teachings. Archives
November 2020
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