Poetry in Motion

Ok, so this is only tangentially poetry, but so COOL!
It is a sock making machine. I really want to own one someday.
They are sold newly manufactured HERE but with prices starting at $1,265 for the basic model, I may just wait and see if any old ones come up at auction somewhere. Not that a hand machined precision piece of poetry isn't worth it, it definately is... but it isn't in the budget this year! Anyway, I find this kind of thing fascinating and hope you enjoy it too!

A Bit of Cuteness to Get Through Monday

True Power

I was reading my friend Kym's blog today, catching up on a few older posts when I read about what a small group of women in Kalamazoo are doing. Women Who Care of Kalamazoo County. (The first link is to Kym's blog post, the second link is to a recent news article.) It appears to be one of a number of grass-roots efforts combining the power of simple organization and the universal idea that if lots of people give a small amount, it can have long-reaching impact for good.
The Kalamazoo organization meets once a quarter. Three local non-profit organizations each give a short presentation about their work. Then the women vote, and each of them write a $100 check to the winner.
At the most recent meeting, $19,000 was raised.
Wow.
I encourage any of you who are prepared to donate money to charity to find or found a similar organization in your community. And I know men care, too. 

Gratitude

When I first became disabled, I struggled with depression and anger. In a well-meaning effort to help, friends and acquaintances often told me I should be grateful my life wasn't worse, often accompanied by stories about others whose disabilities were worse. It has taken me almost ten years to at least partly understand why that didn't help, and in fact made me feel unheard, and yet frustratingly unable to articulate why the comparison idea was anathema to me, and to come to a greater understanding of the power of gratitude when life seems at it's worst.
Gratitude for not suffering what another suffers has never felt right. Sort of like using another’s pain to make myself feel better. 
Gratitude for being a good place in my life compared to where I used to be, sometimes, but simple gratitude is best, I think. 
Gratitude without any comparisons at all helps joy grow.

My New Toys

Last week I found telescopic gardening tools! This means (with the help of a grabber) I can plant the bulbs from the pots Oscar bought for us over the winter.
The tools extend anywhere from 25 up to 37 inches, no set distances between so I can make them exactly the right length for each job.

I got the trowel and the cultivator. Since we won't be putting in boxes this year, the mulched area below the bushes near our patio will be perfect for placing the bulbs. With luck they will bloom for us next spring :-}

Off to Wool-Aid

With Oscar's help, my first box of the year is packed and headed for Wool-Aid central. Twenty two items fit  in the box. There are about 6 leftover items ready to start box two.
Much of the yarn the items are made from was donated by fellow Wool-Aid crafters. With their help, I feel I am able to make a difference.
It is a very satisfying feeling knowing twenty two kids will be warmer next winter.
If you would like to help but don't craft, it costs the organizers about $100 per (big) box to ship the items to their final destinations, HERE is the donate page. Every dollar helps.

Boston

All my thoughts for those affected today by the explosions during the Boston Marathon.

Knowing What Makes You Happy

A simple medium combined with meditative practice and creativity births art.

With thanks to Lynn Viehl for sharing it on her blog first.

For more information on the artist, go HERE

Sarah DiNardo. Tape Artist. from gnarly bay productions, Inc. on Vimeo.