Sunflower Napkin Ring

Sunflower Napkin Ring
Originally uploaded by DragonFly24.

I did this with the left over Cotton Tots I had from the wash cloths I did last year. I found the pattern online and used a big 2" plastic ring for the base. It's for my daughter's lunch at school next year. She's a Montessorian. :)

ATS Bellydance Belt

ATS Bellydance Belt
Originally uploaded by DragonFly24.

Noro rocks. I love their yarn! I knat up some trangles to give more support to the ties. Then I made the tassels and attached them. The mirror base belt was purchased at Lucila's Dance Productions on South Lamar here in Austin.

The belt shimmies me almost! I'm very pleased with the results. It looks most excellent on a black skirt or black fringe scarf. [g]

My little family tribe (John, Mara, Brie & Herb) did some drumming and dancing to celebrate Father's Day. John gave Herb and me a drumming lesson.

I was nervous. I tend to think I am beat-challenged. Guess what? Not any more. Turns out, I can hold a beat pretty well. I'm very pleased because that was so not the case when I started to bellydance way back when.

I found that once I had the pattern in my hands, relaxing was key to holding the beat. Having good posture was important so I that I wouldn't tire and miss a hit. Once I allowed my hands to take over and my body to relax into a conscious state of awareness, I could look up and watch the dancers.

Oh, my.

I discovered my drumming was feeding their dancing. I was a part of the whole experience. The dancer was being danced by the drum and vice versa. Smiling and being joyful just came up out of the void and it was all good. I was able to feel being a part of the dance that I'd never felt. It was a completion of sorts. A very yin/yang kind of thing. I wasn't in the pubic eye, but yet my part was equally important. It's not that I ever devalued drummers, it's just that I've never been one so I didn't *get it*. My appreciation for my partner's drumming has gone up tremendously in just one session. I am blessed to have him.

The experience of drumming with my life partner was very awe-some. To hold the beat together and to encourage each other... to hold the beat steady if the other person missed so they could come back to it... To drum steadily while the other person enjoyed flourishes for the pure fun of it... To trust. Ah, that was sweet.

My daughter playing with that verge of becoming a woman. At 9.5 years old. She does this little dance with the baby side and the grown up side of herself. She is a natural at belly rolls and shimmies. To play the drum for her while she explores her unique abilities was so fine.
My inner eye woke up and really saw her that evening. My heart almost burst with pride and love.

My friendship bonds with Brie and Herb found nourishment and deeper commitment through feeling the Mama Beat with them. Brie's zilling sounded so joyous, like a ululation over the thumping of feet on the Earth. Her smiles and sparkling eyes inspired me to drum on and on.
Herb's deep concentration fulfilled a part of me, saying "Yes, this is worthy of our attention."

We broke up our session with that feeling of "More. Let's do/be/feel more!" Community. So important.

All because I finally had the courage to pick up a drum.

What *Have* You Been Doing?

Well, I've been busy. ;)

Which is why this blog hasn't been updated much recently.

1) Went to the memorial service for my aunt. Really not much to report there. I might scan the pictures of the cool little memory book her friends put together and post it on Flickr... Oh, and my aunt had the wedding march played at her funeral. Her last joke! Way funny!

2) John had "minor" surgery, so I've been babying him for the past 3 days.

3) Mara's off from school and we're adjusting to that. I swear we've
been *such* the social butterflies!

4) I've been taking 3 bellydance classes a week.

5) I've been setting up an Austin ATS bellydance Yahoo group with all the trimmings and the politics to go w/! LOL If you want to check it out, go here: Austin ATS Bellydance. I also have the Austin Belly*Dance Announce list. They are both members only. The announce list is purely a mailing list. The ATS group is a full-blown Yahoo group.

6) I took a kick-ass ATS II workshop this last weekend. Lori and Angela rak!

7) I'm PMSing. Didn't I just go through that??

8) I'm *trying* to crochet another doll and I just can't seem to keep it from increasing. [sigh]

So, there's my news. Back to you, Bob.

Summer Poem

Lift Me Lightly, Locust

with your heavy buzz
lift me lightly, locust
to________________
when days were bigger than me
and there were only happy hassles
of tides and castles
mud pies to runny for fudge
(just rename it gravy)
there were things to hold
like frogs and bugs
_________no room left for a grudge
when my feet were small enough
to miss most of the stickers
my nose was so tiny that smells
had to come through
one
at
a
time
I wonder how I ever had room
to breathe
my eyes were closer to the ground
but I could still see all the way
to the moon and stuff
and things just happened
and I grew up
but not all the way
'cause I could still remember
when days were bigger than me.


Caroline Brune
August 8, 1970
(age 20)
Enid, Oklahoma