That Magical Shed

I have been so moved by the Walk for Peace....and just today...after walking 2,300 miles the Monks reached Washington D.C. The images and stories have been so moving. 

I will certainly be tuning in tomorrow for the Loving Kindness Meditation. 

The final arrival is not an ending. It is a moment of collective awakening...a reminder that peace is not a destination we reach, but a path we choose, step by step together. 

I've got a little story to tell. If you have time and interest read on. If not...I hope you have a lovely.....and peaceful day.

Back in 2019 my sister Nancy and I took a trip to England. I'm not much of a world traveler....so this was big for me. We took advantage of our niece Holly living in Bristol for work and we had a wonderful time with her and her family. Then Nancy and I forged out on our own and went on to do so much more. The whole trip was magical and one I will never forget. 

After our time in Bath...we spent a delightful couple of days in Brighton where we met up with Philippa Stanton. As many of you know she has been a mentor, teacher and friend. I've spoken about her so many time over the years on this blog.

Behind Philippa's home was a gnarly and magical garden...and an even more magical shed. Philippa would often film Instagram videos from the shed where she was surrounded with her eclectic collections and works of art. The door would often be open in her videos...with a view of the sky and her lush garden.

Inside the shed was like a secret fairy land with sometime to look at in every direction. It was absolutely enchanting.

Why am I telling this story now? Read on.

Several years ago I belonged to Philippa's year long puzzle club. I got a puzzle a month for a full year...most of them beautiful arrangements on her famous wabi-sabi Table. I've written about all of them here as I've done them....except one.

This one was different. It was not colorful bits and bobs arranged on her the Table...but the view out the door of that magical shed. 

She called it Cheeks and the Shed. Cheeks was her cat.

I started sorting this puzzle a couple years ago...but it felt a little overwhelming at the time for whatever reason. So I put it away. And as I was shopping the closet for my next puzzle...it called to me. It seemed like the perfect puzzle project for the end of this particular very cold winter as I dream about spring. 

I started with the sky.

It will barely fit on my table from top to bottom. But I will make it work like I always do. I'll start with the top and move it up under my puzzle gang as I go along.

There are lots of browns and neutrals in these boxes...a little daunting actually. 

But there are yummy subtle and earthy colors...loads of wabi-sabi textures and moody atmosphere. All things Philippa taught me to notice and appreciate. 

Now is the perfect time to be assembling that magical view from the shed. 

Here is my photo of Cheeks...from 2019.

The Table....where almost all of the puzzle designs were assembled.