Previously posted on pullingearth.substack.com. Dec 30, 2021.

Happy holidays everyone! I hope you are well and enjoying the season. I will be posting everyday this week to ensure my days are purposeful and reflective. Join me! Let me know what you are doing to slow down and just be.

We step delicately, then jump when the water hits our boots. We are gathering stones, shells and sticks to make a bridge. We want to cross over the winter stream! So far we are winning. Fallen tree branches from the wind storm serve to connect each bank; stones and shells fill in the gaps. The current is fast and our hands sting from the cold. I pocket a few of the zebra muscle casings for later.

At home, I outline the small shell grabbing my 4H pencil to start. The family gathers for lunch just as I begin. Someone bumps the table. They chatter about my sketch. I’m not used to sharing this part. I try to stay open to this new moment. Elsie organizes my pencils. F pencil, please. I am ready to go darker. Not perfect, a few splashes along the way, but a moment expanded. Winning.