This coming Wednesday evening begins the festival
of Sukkot. It is often referred to as
z'man simchateinu, the season of our joy. It is the Jewish harvest
festival that Thanksgiving in the United States is based on, a holiday of
gratitude for the abundance we experience in our lives. I've been
watching the squirrels, chipmunks and birds feasting as they prepare for
winter. It is amazing how much food nature provides for them. Sadly, although
there is plenty of food grown in our world, it isn't available to everyone and
neither is clean water.
there are more
empty bowls and swollen bellies
than a comfortable body can fathom
the inequities of food and clean water
boggle the mind sink a compassionate heart
like stone in an endless sea of tears
to give a little is never enough
still it is something
There is a joke, (was a joke) in my family that I
can't bake bread. It is true, in the past every time I would attempt to bake challah for Shabbat or for holidays it would just be hard and flat. For a long
time I gave up. This year was different. I made bread; really delicious
(according to my family) challah and
it rose higher than I could have hoped. Ok it isn't perfectly round as a
traditional Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur challah should be, but it was
close. During Yom Kippur, our rabbi
encouraged us to contemplate ways we could be more supportive to our shul community, the greater local
community and the world community. As my feet crunched acorns and leaves scattered
on the road this morning, I thought about his challenge, I thought about the
bread I baked. If I could get bread to rise this year, perhaps this would be a good year to actively raise money to help feed hungry
people too!
On October 26th, I will
be walking to raise funds for hunger with our interfaith community for the
Nashua CROP Walk. As long time followers of this blog know, it wasn't many years ago
that I was in a wheelchair most days, and while at night I still need
assistance walking up the steps to bed, with good medication, mediation and
medical care, most days I walk just like the average person. I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am for the blessing of walking on my own two feet in this beautiful world. Both last summer
and this one I've hiked mountains, surely I can walk a few city blocks to help
feed hungry people. To achieve this,
I need your help! This is the
30th anniversary of our local CROP Walk. I figure if there are over well over 1000 people who read my blog,
surely, thirty of you will donate $10 or, sixty could donate $5 to assist me in reaching a modest goal of
$300 over the next three weeks?
...to give a little is never enough still it is something.
I hope you will join me on
this journey as our community takes steps to raise funds toward ending hunger-- every
dollar raised will make a real impact! Please open your heart and pockets and donate by clicking this link.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Welcome
to Week Seventy-Three of
I
Heart Macro
"Pure
awareness transcends thinking... It allows you to look at the world once again
with open eyes. And when you do so, a sense of wonder and quiet contentment
begins to reappear in your life."~Mark Williams and Danny Pennman, from Mindfulness An
Eight-Week Plan For Finding Peace In A Frantic World
It is time for YOU to share the love up-close with YOUR
I Heart Macro offerings!
Dazzling macro shot and so seasonal ~ Hope your holidays are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteartmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)
So true, to give little is not enough...but if everyone gives a little it will become enough for all!
ReplyDeleteLaura - a very mindful and blessings-filled post!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteZQ
What wonderful macros you've posted - absolutely stunning! Here's wishing you a happy, nourishing Sukkot :)
ReplyDeleteOh that bread though... YUM!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finding a heart made of flowers! Your acorn caps are cute. It's great that you learned to get your challah to rise, it looks yummy.
ReplyDeleteTo give a little is better than nothing - wonderful pictures..
ReplyDeleteNice shots - so different to the state of the plants here.
ReplyDeleteStewart M - Melbourne
Stunning selection of images...and yes...so many of us have so much and the rest have almost nothing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful selection of pictures
ReplyDeleteLove your photos, as always! I can make yeast bread but I cannot make biscuits (American ones) to save my life. I always came up with hockey pucks :(
ReplyDeleteFabulous images........lovely bread!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a happy week Laura,
Ruby
The abundance of nature:)
ReplyDeleteA wonderful posts and such beautiful macros! I love the colors!
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Laura. All the best with the walk.
ReplyDeleteAs always an abundant post Laura. I linked in with both my blogs...lots going on and I loved your fruit found out and about in nature. I provide for nature in my garden and I would be happy to support you with $10 in the Crop Walk. Oh and your challah is my husband's favorite. His mouth is watering right now. Much love to you my friend.
ReplyDeleteLovely fall finds. Your bread looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm a little late, I've been doing some home renovation this weekend. Love you photos and Yes, I'd be honored to help you with your cause.
ReplyDeleteSehr schöne Herbstimpressionen....in den typischen Herbstfarben.
ReplyDeleteLiebe GrĂ¼ĂŸe, Karin
The pictures are beautiful as is your heart. I'll be donating a little to support your walk. Wish I could walk with you.
ReplyDeletethat little is magical...thanks for this wonderful post Laura...
ReplyDeleteSo inspiring Laura!
ReplyDeleteIt has been ages since I've indulged in challah.. yours looks so yummy. Beautiful post, Laura. I'd love to walk with you but the next best thing is to support your cause. Consider it done.
ReplyDeleteto give a little is never enough... but really, it is. And the bread shots are fabulous!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the autumn macro shots ~ We are indeed blessed to be living in our countries while so many are living in challenging situations ~ Have a wonderful week Laura ~
ReplyDeleteGlowing treasures;
ReplyDeleteGlowing sentiments
ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^= .
Wonderful photos! i especially love the acorn caps.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post and photos!Your bread looks yummy!:) I wish you a very nice week , dear Laura!
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots. And that bread looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteA lovely and needed message, Laura. Congrats on the bread!
ReplyDeleteWell, fall ... I still miss the summer, but your photos show the best of what we can have now ...
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. Such good and educational things to read here...plus an added bonus of glorious images.
ReplyDeletethat is a lovely idea and so glad that you're able to walk again... your thankfulness shines through...
ReplyDeleteLots to see and photograph this time of year! A lovely series.
ReplyDeleteThose fruits are the real money and acorns to hold them in.
ReplyDeleteOur squirrels have been really busy stashing away food for winter in our shed. I wonder what the mess will look like in the spring, but I hate to disturb all of there efforts this late. - Margy
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your stunning photos! The challah looks stunning. Kuddos for taking part in the walk and I am glad you are back on your feet. A very inspiring post, Laura, in many ways.
ReplyDeleteYour bread looks delicious! It's fun to bake this time of the year. Lovely images :)
ReplyDeleteGreat way to call awareness to this worldwide problem. Good poem.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics again you have here, Laura! Noble thing to do for the walk. Wishing you every success in your endeavors. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHank
lots of great things to enjoy. :)
ReplyDeleteHello Laura, I am a bit late...thank you for hosting. Have a good week and by the way lovely collection of shots!
ReplyDeleteInspirational post Laura. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
ReplyDeleteWishing you well for your walk, and will be there supporting you in spirit. xx
I am happy to donate to your walk....I know how much it means to you..hugs..Michelle
ReplyDeleteLaura, gorgeous fall images.. Your bread looks delicious.. Have a great weekend and happy skywatching!
ReplyDeleteGoogle at my comment so I'm trying again. Your photos are wonderful and I wonder what camera you use as I am in the market for a new one..for stills, not Go Pro. How awesome that you can leave your wheelchair behind. Besides medicine, your faith must be very strong. I believe faith is stronger than chemicals. I envy you and I miss hiking. Take care.
ReplyDeleteFrom your overflowing heart to mind, what a glorious hommage to Fall.
ReplyDeleteThe fall colours are fantastic.
ReplyDeletefills me with warmth, especially the photographs.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photography! I love the mix of shapes and colors.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what I like best, this week : the berries, the bread, the leaves, the acorn sup... Your words, always so well chosen... Thanks for the sharing, Laura.
ReplyDelete.love the spirit of your haiku
ReplyDeleteThese photos are so delicious . yam. thanks for sharing<3
ReplyDeletedearest,
ReplyDeletethank you for infusing your posts with your traditions and family stories. i love the closeness and care that grows from such honest sharing. we are all one. to live in the world knowing this and caring about our choices so we reflect this oneness if the soul nourishing. yes to appreciating ever step that is offered in love and care of each other. gratitude and compassion make every season a season of joy. xo
An overflowing heart---may we all have one!
ReplyDeleteWhirling with Alberto
outside of haiku my heart, i have taken a year off from social media to practice silence, to take time to look deeply within. suddenly it is october and i feel myself resurfacing. what better way to return to the world of blogging then to share the art of remembering. i hope you will join me in this deeply meaning time of acknowledging our loved ones. i miss you. xo
ReplyDelete