Getting in touch with our (dirty!) hands

From Early Spring Planting Day 2011

One of my favorite parts of counting the Omer with Minna every night during this season from Passover to Shavuot is when she recites the final words of the meditation before the blessing:

וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ, כּוֹנְנָה עָלֵינוּ; וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ, כּוֹנְנֵהוּ
The works of our hands -- establish them for us! The works of our hands, establish them!

These words -- a quote of the Psalmist (Ps. 90) imploring God to do this establishing -- came to mind, today, as I was working with my hands (and getting dirt under my fingernails) in the little garden in our backyard. It felt especially satisfying to transplant the four little plants in the picture above -- we not only grew each one from seed, but we had saved the seeds from plants we had grown last year. (We had even taken some of the seeds -- soaking in water as they must for a few days before you dry them -- on a short bicycle tour we took to Lancaster County at the end of last summer.)

I stand in my own sort of middle space right now during this middle time in the 50-day count of the Omer -- a short break between a very busy (but productive!) semester of graduate study at NYU and an exciting return soon to the role of a chaplaincy educator/supervisor in a busy summer in a CPE program at The Jewish Theological Seminary (which starts on Monday). In this middle time, it is important for me to care for my spirit as much as I can. Cycling and gardening are two of the most important ways I engage in that self care, so I felt really centered and happy, today, as I worked my hands in the dirt.

May it be the will of the Blessed Holy One that all the work of your hands shall be upheld -- firmly established! And may your own summer be a productive and joyful one.

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Another sign of Spring has been these baby birds hatching in a nest their parents built in our porch light. Minna took this picture only a little more than a week ago, but already all of these little guys have (literally) flown the next.

Fly on, little guys!

A sign of Spring

This guy has moved in with us for a bit (nesting in our porch light!) it seems.

As we move into the final days of our great spring holiday -- Pesach! -- I wish our visitor (and everyone!) a productive Spring, full of health and much joy.

Almost there

In just a few days, the buds on this little White Star Magnolia tree will be blooming with beautiful flowers -- spring is clearly almost here!

From Early early spring 2011 (Wyomissing creek)

And some of this tree's neighbors (in Wyomissing Creek park here in Reading) are already blooming! Minna and I saw the first crocuses and daffodils (and others) on a little walk this afternoon. Here are some of them:

From Early early spring 2011 (Wyomissing creek)

From Early early spring 2011 (Wyomissing creek)

A nice treat to be able to enjoy the first fruits of Spring as Purim approaches!

First sign

Minna claims this little guy in our front yard will grow up to be a big tulip one day. . . Not too many signs of spring, yet, although it's been raining (a lot!) instead of snowing. The willow trees are starting to bud out. We went for our first walk in the local Nolde Forest in a long time (as a pre-Shabbat excercise and time for talk . . . muddy, but fun) . . . Before you know it, Pesach will be here!

I'm looking forward to more Spring, but I'll miss parts of the winter. It's mostly been a good one for me.

Shabbat Shalom!