My Spirit Owl Pillow is for sale. It is $90 + $10 shipping you can buy it here.
I’ve been thinking about Owl since this past summer when an owl would be in the woods when I walked with the dogs. The owl would watch us from the branches of a tree, or even follow us a bit before flying off.
Nancy sent me the owl fabric around that time, but it wasn’t until about six months later that I knew how to use it. I started by making Spirit Owl Potholders, then made a quilt and now I made some pillows. Six in all. Five are sold and now I have one more for sale.
My Spirit Owl Pillow is 15″x15″ and is $90 + $10 shipping. You can buy it in my Etsy Shop, just click here.
With snow on the ground this morning I wasn’t sure if the hens would come out of the coop. When I didn’t see them out my studio window, I decided to put the water bowl inside the coop.
But the hens weren’t in the coop or outside under the bird feeder where they hang out when there is any snow at all. I didn’t expect to find them in the barn, but I couldn’t imagine where else they might be.
Suddenly the farm was back to the way if was before Zip came to live with us. A cat on the back porch, birds at the feeder and the hens in the barn.
The chickens haven’t gone into the barn since Zip ate or chased out everything that lived in it. I was glad to see the chickens had their old scratching ground in the barn back.
When Zip followed me into the barn, I expected him to chase the chickens. And he may have thought of it, but I a put a few treats in his bowl and he lost interest in everything else.
I gave the hens some dried mealworms and it was the peaceable kingdom once again.
Zills are the little cymbals we wear on our fingers and play to the beat of the song we are dancing to.
It’s dark, but the clear sky is filled with stars and a sliver of moon, which makes it easier to see. I’m driving home from belly dancing class listening to Salio El Sol by Don Omar. I’m clapping my thumb and middle finger together as if I’m wearing Zills, my hand is above my head my wrist flicking.
I’m counting the beat.
Last week our teacher Julz talked about Zilling above the beat. She’s talked about it before but last week was first time I began to really understand what she was saying. Then yesterday in class, I not only grasped the idea, but was able to do it
The idea of Zilling above the beat is hard for me to explain. I have found for me it’s more a feeling. It’s not that I’m Zilling faster but with more snap with more energy.
In the car my my hand and wrist are is getting tired. The music starts to drag, I feel myself being lulled into a trace. I’ve fallen not even on the beat, but below the beat.
The thing is it doesn’t feel good, my brain gets loggy, as if I’m hearing in slow motion.
But now I know why. And I know how to get back to that snap and spark that I feel not only in my fingers and wrist but throughout my body. As I once again clap my fingers and count above the beat I feel my brain sharpen and the music comes alive again.
I’ve always loved this song from the first time I danced to it it over six years ago but I’ve never been able to Zill to it.
Now I understand why.
The interesting thing is that it’s easier to Zill above the beat. It’s more work and takes more energy but it makes Zilling easier. It makes keeping the beat easier, which in turn will make my dancing better.
Although I’m not sure I can Zill above the beat while dancing. Right now it seems enough for me to do it while standing still (or driving home). But I bet it comes quicker now than it would have a few years ago.
Zilling above the beat is like dancing with attitude.
Which is what drew me to bellydancing to begin with. When I saw the Benninton Beledi Bellydancers for the first time it was the attitude of the dancers as much as the dance that I wanted to experience.
So now it’s not enough for me to dance with attitude, I’m going to learn to Zill with attitude too.
Fate loves to chase a ball as much as she does sheep. Sometimes I take both dogs out and throw the ball for them. Zinnia will only chase her ball, she knows it’s hers by the way it smells, so there’s no competing.
I like to walk around the pasture when I throw the ball. I check the fences and look to see what is growing or not growing, or pick up litter from passing cars.
While on the other end of the pasture I saw the donkeys picking at the last of the hay, the green mountains in the distance, the maple towering over the barn and my studio. I find the shapes of the buildings, although not natural, fit well into the landscape.
Jon throwing the ball for Zinnia
Jon sometimes comes out with us and throws the ball for Zinnia. You can see the maple tree behind him that is dying. It’s dropping branches, but is also the tree that the Woodpecker live in and the Bald Eagles and Crows land on to get a good view of their surroundings.
