31/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

On the rain soaked, wind swept pavement, a dislodged piece of bark in the shape of a heart.
~

Today is the last official day of January's Mindful Writing challenge, but I will be continuing with mindful writing on my small stones blog. 

30/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

The wind is rattling the window frame.  Outside, the whole silver birch sways and the hanging branches throw constantly dancing shadows on the house opposite.

28/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

I pour hot water into the plastic turquoise mixing bowl and watch the steam rise.  I add two drops of eucalyptus and one drop of lavender oil.  "That smells nice!" Jake says, but I can't smell anything, not even with my head above the steam and a towel over my head.  I open my mouth to inhale the vapours and a light green taste lands on my tongue, but there is no smell and the taste makes no sense without the smell.

19/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

On the narrow low wall in front of number 72, a strip of snow, undisturbed except for 3 paw prints.

16/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

In the middle of rushing, I catch a glimpse of blue sky and wispy white cloud out the kitchen window.  It makes me stop, smile.  Light in the sky that isn't grey!  But then I am back to rushing again.
~
In the middle of a game of trains, Jake stops to watch the Mike The Knight and I fall asleep on the floor next to the yellow lego platform.  I only realise I have done so when I wake myself up snoring.

15/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

Jake, silent, focussed, scooping out the soft flesh of a baguette with a fork and stuffing his little face.
~
The happy synchronicity of being sent a hug by text from a friend, exactly when I needed it.
~
In the gap between two houses on Edward Road, a glimpse of pale peach sky underneath a blanket of grey cloud.

14/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

Leaving the tube station: snow!  The air is a shower of silent white softness that disintegrates as soon as it hits the ground.  But I bring some home on my knitted grey hat, the front of my coat, my hair.

13/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

Yoshi emerges from under the sofa, with dust clinging to his black fur.  The flecks on his face make his jowls look fuller, and give him the look of an aged Patriarch.

12/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

Jake in a Spiderman top and bright emerald green leggings hands me his Bob the Builder balloon and says, "Here's your balloon your majesty." 
~
Playing "We'll meet again" on the ukulele, I think of a friend who's lost a friend today, and hope she isn't alone tonight.
~
A lone magpie sways atop a leafless Sycamore, its tail moving up and down like a rudder, keeping balance in the wind.

11/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

On the overground train, two teenage boys get on at Hackney Downs, talking about exam results.  One is hoping to get two A*'s and an A.  "That would be sweet.  If you get that, it's Cambridge man.  Yup, Cambridge...imagine rocking up there on the first day in that neon tracksuit!"

~

In the still new waiting room of Children's Outpatients, a lift-the-flap book sits on top of a locked white cabinet, too high for small arms to reach.  On the front cover, a faded sticker that reads, "For Distraction Only."

~

Leaving the waiting room, someone else's tiny child with big dark eyes and a mini red duffel coat follows us.  Paul has to take her back to her mother.

10/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

Sitting on the sofa with Jake, his feet (in Spiderman high top trainers) just dangle over the edge, a bowl of popcorn between us.  Between crunching Jake says, "Do you want me to fart on you?" ~ Pfffffft ~ "I just did!"

9/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

As I look out the window to search the sky for traces of blue, my eye finds instead the powder blue water butte, blue clothes pegs on a faded green line, the turquoise of the upturned paddling pool.

8/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

Sunrise ~ for a few minutes only, the blue-ing sky streaked with pink and orange holds a sliver of still shining moon.

7/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

Two dogs on their leads as their owner stops to talk ~  the Golden Retriever lies down, the Jack Russell stands, his nose in the air, sniffing at everyone who walks by.

6/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

On the shower curtain, the green medicine cabinet, miniaturised and suspended in a drop of water.

5/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

After waking but before words, you slip your small hand into mine.  I cradle the curve of your fingers like the breast of a small bird. 

4/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

8am ~ a row of starlings on the fishbone antenna, chirping and calling, electrified whistling.

3/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

Jake, aged 4, dressed as Batman, sports a turquoise coloured, bubble gum flavoured, ice cream beard.

2/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

Two for Joy

A pair of magpies perch on
bare branches of a Plane tree.
As soon as I get my camera ready
they are gone.

1/31 ~ January Mindful Writing

The neighbour's barbeque, rusted round its oval edges, makes a basin of last year's rain water, reflecting a tilted sky.

~

Kaspa & Fiona (Satya) at Writing Our Way Home are hosting another month long mindful writing challenge.
They are inviting people to "Pay more attention and fall in love with the world."
I couldn't resist.
How about you?