On recent walks, interspersed with lovely gardens like the middle photo below, I've noticed sweet little children's play areas outside, along the sidewalks.  They make me smile, with their whimsical gatherings of small toys.  Fun amidst the challenges of our world, along with imagination and play...

Without fail, when I start to feel discouraged and sad and upset and tired about all that's wrong with our world, I spot something beautiful.  For today, it's sidewalk gardens and a small reminder in the form of a sign.  For our Tuesday....

It seems hard to find joy in our troubled world, particularly in the last few weeks.  Pain and violence and our dark history - these are so present and heavy and fundamentally heartbreaking.  And then the first dahlia bloomed in my front garden, and yesterday after I participated in a very hard conversation about racism I looked out of the window and there was a robin sipping water from a puddle on the deck, and a few moments later a hummingbird visiting a red flower.  Little signs of the holy, it seems to me.  Of joy.

I think I'll stop my count of the weeks in shelter in place now...  Instead, I'll note that here we are at the beginning of June.  I meant to write yesterday, on Pentecost, the birthday of the church.  I was able to watch three online services in which we commemorated this joyful part of the church year, while at the same time holding the tragedy of racism in our country and the continued danger of COVID-19.  Holding both grace and pain seems to be where we are right now.  Oh, and looking everywhere for the hope.  For me, I see hope in God's creation - so here are some red Pentecost examples for June 1.

At the start of week 11 (phew....) I am marveling at the lettuces I've been able to grow from seed.  I have never had much luck with this before - perhaps a silver lining of shelter in place is that I brought more patience and attention to growing lettuce from seed.  Whatever it was, the lettuces are amazing on my rooftop garden!  I'm a little worried that they will bolt in our little heatwave, so sending photos of them now while they are glorious.  Happy Memorial Day everyone....

Well, now I'm ready to post some photos of sidewalk gardens in my SF neighborhood.  I hope that everyone enjoys these and others over the long weekend.  As I walk familiar places, I try to notice the beauty of the world more...

At the start of week 10 of shelter in place, I was thinking that I might post photos of lovely sidewalk gardens in SF, or maybe I would brag a little about my lettuces grown from seed.  And then ... I got a delivery from Whole Foods this afternoon and found a surprising little gift in the day to day-ness of life.  Here it is.  It's just, quite simply, the answer to everything.  Thank you to my amazing delivery person today.   What a beautiful reminder.

I've been thinking about favorite places lately.  They seem particularly treasured during this time, particularly if we can visit them often.  Here is a collection.  The top row is my friend Betty's special spot - the buddha across the street from 950 Rockdale.  The middle row is my neighbor Jane's dreamy back yard garden.  And the bottom row is the cactus garden at Stanford where I had the chance to walk last Sunday.  If you send me your favorites, I'll add them to the collection!   Happy Saturday...

I've been so struck by roses this week.....Here are some photos of roses in my neighborhood, as well as some sent to me.  So lovely.....

Happy Sunday, everyone - on the cusp of week 8.  (But who's counting, well I guess I am....)  Friends and neighbors have continued to send me beautiful photos - here is a collection for your Sunday viewing pleasure on this bright sunny day in SF.  Most of these are from SF, the middle vista is Monterey... Also the photos in the top row feature the wonder of bees!