MaryAlice Musings and More

What a difference a dog can make to your heart. Radar (he was rescued and fostered at the MN Small Dog Rescue) found his way into my home, into Terry's home this Thursday. I was very skeptical, not sure with travel schedules, workload, grandkids, life that there was room for a dog. So Thursday the foster mom came to Minneapolis with Radar. When I opened the door at Terry's it took about 10 minutes for my heart to melt. Radar is from Missouri, probably was in a puppy mill. About 4 months ago, Radar was put into a horse trailer along with 49 other dogs. They brought all fifty dogs to Minnesota. Unfortunately, many of dogs were unable to be rescued, but somehow, someone figured out that this guy, Radar, was able to be saved! He wasbrought to the MN Small Dog Rescue. He had mange, and many other complications he was in quarantine for 2 months. He has had very good care, and he is in fine shape. He was fostered in Rochester for the last 3-4 weeks, and now he is home in NE...

Seven years ago, Minnesota lost one of it's Senators and his wife. We also lost a father, a grandfather, a friend, a teacher, a community activist, a believer and a visionary. It seems so much shorter and so much longer since this lost. Camp Wellstone continues to support young people, old people, people who had to learn that it is THEIR right to run for office, to advocate for change to be the change to believe. Graduates are everywhere, I don't know how many states have Camp Wellstone grads, but it is alot. Here in MN there are still Wellstone bumper stickers on cars, and the newer "What would Paul do?" stickers as well. We have schools, community centers and initiatives named after Paul and Sheila. Seven years, it is a long time to be with the loss of your Dad, your Mom, and also your sister. My heart opens and sends forth light and love to the Wellstone sons, and the entire family. I am feeling deep appreciation for the beliefs that Paul and his family he...

Sun shining, and I am humming, listening to Jennifer Berezan singing "she carries me", and I am off to a s oundshiftng workshop.  Toning, intentional speech, healing.  Taking time as the days are shorter and we more easily go within.  Ya Fatah - opening the way - a greeting of welcome.  May we all experience a deep loving breath today!

Even I, who hasn't watched a baseball or football game in a long time have been unable to not get caught up in the border battles, the "last game at the dome", and the hype about the new (well old!) quarterback for the Vikings.  I watched the Packer-Viking football game last night - amazing the things that some Lutherans from MN will wear when they go to a football game.  And they make fun of the cheese heads - I'd say those blocks of cheese on top of the head look pretty mild!  Then today I was going from one meeting to another and had to travel through downtown, it was 2:30 so I thought I was safe, the Twins (that would be baseball in the dome) were playing a game to determine who would go into the playoffs.  It started at 2-but NO, there were throngs of people all with a completely different, but none less outrageous costumes todays Lutherans were wearing!  So here I am watching a baseball game, I haven't watched one in years, and it is the top of 8th, a tie ga...

My grand daughter has been taking horse riding (Dressage) lessons for a little more than three months.  She came to see me at work during the first part of August and she was dressed in her boots, and pants and had her helmet (pink), and she looked like she could walk into any arena!  I have been trying to go to the stables every other week or so to see her.  Diana her teacher doesn't mind at all when Gramma comes, and I have been fascinated at each and every lesson.  Myah, does all the preparation for the horse, she rides Satin and Nick and has taken one ride on Libby.  They all are or have been show horses, they are beautiful and big and Myah looks even tinier than she is as she leans over and brushes the horse, and prepares him or her for their time in the arena.   Her teacher is inspiring, just the right mixture of push, reaching for exactness, for perfection, and rewarding both rider and horse throughout the lesson. Yesterday, when I walked into the arena - Myah had started he...

I walked the Labyrinth with the Red Tent women for the equinox.  They offered this blessing for all of us, for the season, and I am offering it to you.  As you read imagine a lit candle on your left and a lit candle on your right.  This prayer is for every day not just on the autumnal equinox, rather for us as we move into the darkness, travel within, find the gifts within the dark, and we move from equinox to solstice! A Fall Equinox Blessing A balance of night and day, a balance of light and dark Tonight I seek balance in my life as it is found in the Universe. One candle for darkness and pain and things I can eliminate from my life. Another candle for the light, and for joy and all the abundance I wish to bring forth. At tis time of the equinox, there is harmony and balance in the Universe, and so there shall be in my life.

I am sitting in a little "nest" on the top floor of a wonderful home in Hovland, MN.  The waves are crashing on the rocks, the sun has created brilliant sparkles dancing across the water.   Sunrise was bigger than life, and the sun just popped up without a cloud.  There are no "salties" or barges that I can see yet, but some are due in harbor at Duluth so they will be coming past sometime today.  It is so soothing the sounds of the water, the breeze, and how remarkable that it is so warm.   This is the last of my "mini-vacations" for end of summer!  People at work, just think this is what I am going to keep doing, and I might.  Everywhere has been to where there are few people, no bustle, and great natural beauty.  It has soothed my soul, and I can feel the pull.   Feel the way in which my heart and my spirit are dancing with each other, helping me to find myself entwined in it all.