I Like Thursday: Wait, It’s July?

Goodness.  I've done nothing but quilting posts for over a month.  I've done plenty of good things that aren't sewing that I'd like to share at I Like Thursday.

Let's start out this post with a guinea pig!  This is Madea.  She's the first foster we've had since October. 

Madea is a sweetie and is settling in quite nicely.  However, she doesn't know what to do with veggies.  What kind of silly pig is this?  She will only eat carrots.  Not cucumber or lettuce or tomatoes or peppers or corn husks.  I'm working on her.

Kripalu 2024

There's nothing like a weekend away at Kripalu (which I can't believe was a whole week ago).  Beautiful area, great food, even better company and some yoga to top it off.   

Each time I go there's always interesting things to discover and rediscover.  This time I found a tiny little shrine by the parking lot.  I wondered how long it had been there and I had just passed it by.  I rediscovered a few places that I love - swinging chairs and hidden shrines (although I found out a few shrines had been taken down).  The hammocks were new!  I got a chance to spend some time in one of them, swinging in the breeze and watching the clouds.  To top it off, there was so much green!  We usually come before the wisteria is in bloom; I enjoyed sitting under the purple blooms.

I Like Thursday: Return to Kripalu

This week's like - I went to Kriplau!  I haven't been to the yoga center with the gals since 2019.  How wonderful!  The wildfire smoke even cleared up enough to allow for hiking, kayaking, and Qigong on the Lawn.   

There was 10 of us in my group (and not a single group photo!).  Two of the gals I never even saw.  (I hope they had a nice time.)  Another two ran into me at afternoon yoga.  The rest of us shared a couple of dorm rooms overlooking the lake. 

My sister and I took archery, which was a lot of fun.  I haven't handled a bow in years.  The whole class agreed it was satisfying to listen to the whoosh of the arrow when released and the thunk when it hits the target.  

I Like Thursday: Outdoors, Indoors, New Doors?

Last week I enjoyed a class on mushroom hunting.  Learned a bunch of things about local mushrooms and how to identify edible mushrooms.  I'm curious, but not ready to make the jump to become a mushroom hunter myself.  However, while hiking over the weekend, I was delighted to find evidence of someone hunting mushrooms near Kripalu.  These look like Dryad's Saddle mushrooms, and had a series of cuts in them.  I found large red mushrooms further along that look like they had been harvested as well.

Chick Yoga Weekend XVII

This year's trip to Kripalu was just what I needed.  It took a full day of beautiful weather, good food and fun friends to let the mind calm and the anxiety to let go.  But it happened.  I feel so much better.

Four of us met for lunch on Friday, excited to have a few days off.  We arrived at Kripalu early, but they had our room ready - a six-bunk room just for us, overlooking the lawn from the quiet third floor.  Added bonus:  it had a sink.  Yeah, the stupid little stuff that floats our boat.

Chick Yoga Weekend XVI

Ah!  A weekend at Kripalu.  I look forward to this every year and this year did not disappoint.  The weather started out hot and humid, but it was sunny most of the time.  I hiked with my sister on multiple days, including a trail I've been meaning to try for years.  Pretty views, lots of greens and blues; some surprising oranges (the little newt? salamander? was so tiny my camera refused to focus on it). 

I have been remiss with my yoga in the last year, but did pretty well in classes.  I must be in shape because I wasn't stiff and sore each morning (although a couple of dips in the whirlpool may have helped).

I spent as much time as I could outdoors, reading or writing.  Some swinging chairs have been added to the grounds in the last year or so.  Love them!  I sat in one spot for nearly an hour and didn't see another soul.  The tranquility and solitude were wonderful.

I Like Thursday: Kripalu

I spent a long weekend at Kripalu in Stockbridge, MA.  A weekend of yoga, hiking, friendship and generally chilling.  I liked that a lot... and there was a lot to like.

I like that we got a dorm room just for the eight of us that chose dorm accommodations.  One of the girls likened it to being at camp.  It made for a gab-fest up until lights out.  I liked the camaraderie.  

I like the food.  Nope.  I love the food.  We laughed that we seemed to go from one meal to another.  I ate strictly vegetarian the whole weekend; it was delicious.  I took photos of a few ingredient lists in the buffet line, hoping to make them myself.  There was chai every morning.  What a treat!

Chick Yoga Weekend XV

Fifteen years of Chick Yoga Weekend.  I don't know where the time goes.  We had a large number of gals this year, most were new to the group.  I spent time telling the story how Chick Weekend started, how we got where we are now.  I thought of those who couldn't make it - people were asking about you!  We've had some fun times.

Kripalu has been a lot of things to me over the years.  The place itself has changed a lot, too.  But it is always a haven of love and tranquility.  For that I am very grateful.  In the beginning, it was a lot about taking classes and learning about myself.  Now I tend to spend more time simply reflecting and enjoying the company of others.

Kripalu Hidden Gems

There's so much to see and do at Kripalu, sometimes it takes more than one post to share it all.

I've been returning to Kripalu for nearly 15 years.  It has changed a lot over that time.  (So have I.)  I had forgotten how much, until I started chatting with an instructor that's been there for 20 years.  Some changes are big, like when the built the Annex.  But a lot of what I find each year are small.  Some of them aren't really new, either, it's just that I haven't stumbled across them in the past.

Chick Yoga Weekend XIV

The first weekend in June was my annual Chick Yoga Weekend at Kripalu.  It was fantastic.  The problem is, I really needed a whole week there.  The fact that I'm writing my blog post a week later is testament to that.  Life is a little out of control at the moment.

But for three solid days, life was wonderfully in control.  I headed out for Lee, MA, early on Friday morning to meet with five early-birds for lunch.  It was a great start our trip, as we excitedly shared what we hoped to do (or not do) over the weekend.  We arrived at Kripalu early enough to check in, but before our room was ready.  That was fine.  We wandered the grounds and generally hung out.

So many flowers and green

Chick Yoga Weekend XIII

Bold baby bunny

I had a much smaller group at Kripalu this year than other years.  After picking a date that most everyone agreed on, half the group was unable to make it because life got in the way.  But the five of us that attended this year had a wonderful time.  It was a quiet weekend, with plenty of room in all of our classes.  The weather cooperated as well.

Bunnies!  We arrived and were greeted by the very tame bunny rabbits that hang out on the front lawn.  They were cute and so blase about humans walking right up to them, even the young ones.

I attended a few workshops: an evening class of yin yoga and qigong, one on food and inflammation, another on writing haiku, and lastly a class on Mitahar (moderation in eating).  The last one was not at all what we expected, and was very interesting.  The Haiku Stew was entertaining (and I found out that haiku doesn't have to fit the 5-7-5 syllable format).

Chick Yoga Weekend XII

I have returned home after another wonderful Chick Yoga Weekend.  We're all amazed at how many years we've been attending.  We discussed how much has changed at Kripalu in a dozen years, yet we can count on enjoying our stay.

There were seven of us in my group and another seven women associated with Bristol Yoga Studio.  We occupied most of a big dorm room overlooking the lawn.  I ran into a few members of the Bristol group several times over the weekend, and we adopted one of the members.  She was a wonderful addition to our group.

The weather was fantastic, in spite of the forecasts.  It was cool in the evening, warm and sunny for most of the days.  Many of us went hiking, walked the labyrinth and read outside or attended the guided hikes and kayaking.  I went on a hike with my sister and a friend on Sunday afternoon.  We turned back early when another guest informed us of a bear in the woods near the lake.

Fancy Feet

Freshly inked to badly faded

I know.  I'm so strange - a blog post about my feet.  But look at that nifty henna tattoo!  I really enjoyed the one I got last year at Kripalu, so I decided to do it again this year. 

Since I've been working at home, I'm usually barefoot all day.  I also figured the tops of my feet wouldn't get as much wear and tear as my hands and arms, so I hoped the tattoo would last longer.  One of my friends was concerned that my tattooed feet wouldn't get appreciated - who would see it?  Me!  I would!  I get out of bed in the morning or kick my feet up on my desk in the afternoon and it makes me smile.  But she should rest assured - plenty of people noticed and admired the artwork on the day of the move, at the pignic and at a contra dance.

I loved watching the artist pipe the henna on my feet.  It looked like melted unsweetened chocolate.  She worked quickly and I enjoyed watching the pattern appear.  The upper left picture was taken right after she'd completed her work.  It started flaking off later in the day and I peeled the rest of it off by the following morning.  The henna continued to darken over the next day or so and then stayed that way for two whole weeks.  A bit of the inside arch wore off because of wearing sandals, but the rest stayed pretty much intact until last Thursday.  Into week three, all but the outside edges had faded away.  Ah, well.  I enjoyed it while it lasted; a little extension of my Kripalu weekend. 

Hidden Treasures

I loved treasure hunts as a kid, and reveled in any story that involved secret passages or hidden clues.  I still eat that stuff up.  One of the things I enjoy so much at Kripalu is exploring the grounds, finding shrines and the gifts other visitors have left behind.  My favorite is a shrine featuring Ganesha, in the woods behind the main building.  The scattered offerings provide a glimpse of others whom have come and gone.

The spring is so beautiful at Kripalu, all green and growing.  This year's exploration yielded a terra cotta head hidden in the grass and a huge field of Queen Anne's lace.  I spent much of my hiking in the shady areas, to avoid the heat.  I ventured out for my annual trip around the labyrinth, but it was too hot to linger long at its center.

Chick Yoga Weekend XI

Huzzah for Chick Yoga Weekend!  After the weeks of stress from apartment hunting, packing and strangers parading through our place, I needed a break. 

There were ten of us this year, four were newcomers.  We had a dorm room all to ourselves.  Hiking to the fourth floor multiple times a day gave everyone a workout beyond the yoga classes.  Oof.  But the air circulation was good up there, and it ended up being comfortable even with the hot weekend (there's no air conditioning).

I skipped both afternoon yoga classes this year.  Shocking!  I chose instead to spend time gabbing with my friends and napping.  Wow, I needed that.  I attended a few of the workshops, but for the most part I spent time outside, wrote in my journal, and read.  I even had a chance to try out the new-and-improved mediation room on Monday.  All of the windows allowed for abundant sunlight and air.  It was delightful.

Kripalu R&R

Chick Yoga Weekend is an opportunity to chill out, as well as a chance to learn some new stuff.  I participated in several activities during the weekend beyond my morning and evening yoga classes.

The grounds at Kripalu are beautiful.  It's a wonderful place just to hang out and unwind (the KYTA teacher we went with happily confessed that she did absolutely nothing for the whole weekend).  There are shrines and devotional spots tucked away in nooks and crannies.  Walking around the estate can be a bit like a treasure hunt - I never know what I'll stumble across.  Sometimes I find rock sculptures, offerings or trinkets left behind, scraps of papers with petitions or words of thanks.  They're little glimpses of other people's lives and evidence of their passing through.  Even some of the plant life can be an unexpected find.  I discover something new every year.

Beauty and hidden treasures

Chick Yoga Weekend X

This year's chicks (minus one member - sorry about that)

I can't believe I have been organizing Chick Yoga Weekend for a decade.  Seriously?  It can't possibly be that long.  And yet, another Chick Yoga Weekend has come and gone.

There were eight Chicks this year.  We got the dorm room we had two years ago - an 11-bunk room overlooking the lawn and the lake.  It was a very busy weekend so there were 21 women in that room!  We like when we get a room to ourselves, but this was in a prime location (1st floor, just above the whirlpool) and the cross-breeze was most welcome at night.  I considered it a fair tradeoff.

It was sunny and warm all weekend.  I spent a good chunk of time on the back lawn, taking in the view of the mountains and the lake and walking the grounds.  The clouds rolled in on Monday morning; the rain started just as I hopped in the car to drive home.  Perfect timing.

Canvas Runner

I can sew and make my Sculpey ornaments, but drawing/painting has never been my strong suit.  My sister, Pamela, inherited the that talent.  She does some amazing stuff with watercolors.  I own several of her paintings.  She also works with oils, acrylics and lately, paper.  I know - not really painting - but check out this card she sent to me last month.  All bits of paper.  I don't think I could do that!  It's pretty cool. (Kripalu chicks -- recognize it?)

Much of Pamela's work is framed watercolors and cards, but she has done some larger pieces - murals and a few canvas rugs/floor coverings.  The rugs are made from sheets of painter's canvas, painted and the coated with polyurethane. 







This summer, she had been working on a hall runner that was commissioned by an aunt.  She unveiled her work at our family reunion this weekend.  Pam had described it to me, but her description didn't do it justice.  I think the colors are striking;  the faux marble in the middle looks so neat.  My favorite part was the gold and red diamonds around the edge - I think they just pop.  And the fleur-de-lis just make it look so royal.  She does beautiful work!
  

Chick Yoga Weekend IX

This doesn't really fit under any of my blog headings, although it does begin with a C:  Chick Yoga Weekend.

I have been organizing a weekend trip to the Kripalu Yoga Center in Stockbridge, MA for nine years.  The group changes annually, but it often consists of my sister, my friends and their friends and a friend we met at Kripalu. We do the R&R program which allows us each to pick and choose what we want from a variety of courses.  Some of the sessions we took over the weekend included:  The Yoga of Shakespeare, Extraordinary Living, Mindfulness, Radical Possibilities, Healing Arts Sampler: Positional Therapy, Meditation and Good Gut, Great Health.  Of course there are yoga classes in the morning, noon and late afternoon. Yoga Dance on Saturday afternoon with live drumming.  I recognized a couple of wild women dancing to those drums!  Entertainment on Saturday was either concert or LED and fire hoop dancing on the lawn.  I'm pretty sure all of us spent some time in the whirlpool.  It's a great way to finish the day.

For the most part, we had a fantastic time.  The weekend was cut short for one member when she had an unfortunate accident during the guided bike tour when her bike hit a rather large pothole.  A broken bone and yoga do not really mix.  We were lucky to find another party that came from New Jersey, so she was able to have someone drive her home.

The weather was warm and sunny almost the entire weekend.  It was a hard choice between being outdoors or yoga.  People hiked, brought their reading or writing out to the benches and enjoyed the sun and the view of the Stockbridge Bowl.  We ate half of our meals outside and spent that time ooh-ing and ahh-ing over a pair of baby bunny rabbits that would eat the grass right next to the picnic benches.  They were pretty cute!

I think each of us got a chance to walk the labyrinth at least once.  We were all amazed at how it looks this time of year.  There are flowers!  Chick Yoga Weekend is usually in early May and the labyrinth seems so austere, with just shrubs and cobblestones.  But look how it appears in June!  Wonderful!

The long weekend flew by as usual.  Interesting and entertaining roommates (we found out that wrap pants and bicycling do not mix!).  Great food.  Fun classes.  A chance to unplug from the rest of the world for a few days.  I am always sad to leave and look forward to returning next spring.