Photos from Ashland Grower's Market Oct. 2011

Carol enjoying the fall colors at Grower's Market

Fall bounty-Squashes and leeks

Grower with buyers, enjoying the fall harvest

Gorgeous fall flora-mums, zinnias, baby gourds: one of Ashland's lovely sights & smells!

Sitting in Silence, Soaking up Sunshine

Warm, inviting, comforting

Sunshine in autumn feeds us

Her gentle presence, giving life

Neighboring kids exuberant

Singing, laughing, full of Joy

Free of worry, doubts, schedules

Often able to be spontaneous and real

Gifts their parents lose with too much to do

Forgetting life's simple pleasures.

Carol Browning 10/17/2011

 

Soaking Up the Midday Sun

Calmness abiding

Blessed to be here in the Sunshine

May all beings experience Joy and Wonder

Beyond their suffering and facing life challenges

Beyond the fearful, doubting-mind we all have.

May we learn to trust our own Depths that

give rise to a spacious knowing

Enfolding us in Grace and a deep, abiding Peace.

Carol Browning 11/17/2011

IN THE FACE OF DEATH

In the face of death

We need to pause, be gentle

Befriend the full range of  our feelings

Knowing, trusting they will keep changing.

We need to be patient and tender with ourselves

Feelings allowed to flow are welcome,

Even when  unsettling and uncomfortable.

When suppressed they go dormant,

Freezing us, and likely to come alive when facing another loss.

When a caring person we love dies,

It is natural to grieve, feeling the loss of their physical presence in our lives. 

Letting go rarely happens overnight, and it is healthy

To welcome support from friends & family

When we are feeling vulnerable.

We need to honor the sacred space,

Time for solitude, community, whatever feels nurturing

When a dear friend crosses over to a dimension

That for us remains a mystery.

Carol Browning 10/8/11