On Tuesday

Little Cabbage Plant

This is the cabbage plant I am growing from the rooted core of a head of store bought cabbage.  I don't expect the plant to grow and form another head of cabbage, but, this is the first time I've been successful getting a cabbage core to root and grow, so I am thrilled to bits!  The leaves shown here are about two inches long; maybe, in a few weeks, I might be able to pick a couple of leaves to add to a salad or a soup!  

Tuesday was a bit of a windy day.  Not quite the wind storm we had been told to expect on Monday, but, enough of a wind to blow the clouds away.  It was a clear, sunny day, with blue skies and mild temperatures.  I brought the trash cans in, collected the mail, walked for 20 minutes,  watered the back garden, took the last few bags of decluttered items to the garage, chatted a bit with aunt C, and spoke with the monks at the temple.

A couple of days ago, the monks had called to ask me if I knew where they could obtain thread in the colors of the Buddhist flag (blue, yellow, red, white, and orange) for an upcoming religious ceremony.  They required a certain quantity of it and they thought I would know because I do a lot of needlework.  I also recognized it as a tacit way of inviting me to participate in the ceremony.  They know that I will not attend the event in person due to the number of attendees, but, here is an opportunity to participate by providing something needed.  So, after I mentioned a couple of craft stores where such thread could be bought, I offered to get the thread for them.  I picked out the crochet thread my mother used to use (in remembrance of her); the nearest store to me didn't have the colors I wanted, so, I asked my daughter to order it from the store website and have it shipped to me.  By doing the ordering for me, she, too, had the opportunity to participate in a meritorious act.  

Thread

The box of thread arrived, on Tuesday, and I called the temple and offered to bring it over.  The senior monk told me that he will tell the junior monk to call me, which he did, and he said he will drive over to pick up the thread, as they didn't want to inconvenience me by having me drive over.  So, in the evening, the junior monk arrived and picked up the thread.  I had ordered two spools of each color because I wasn't sure if the thread would be of the right hue and intensity that was wanted.  Once the monk approved of the colors chosen, I went ahead and ordered two more spools of each color.  The monks will chant blessings and knot and twist the different colored strands of thread into one strand,  During the ceremony, the attendees will pass the thread around and hold it while the monks chant blessings.  The thread unites the attendees.  Afterwards, the monks will cut shorter lengths of the blessed thread and tie it on the right wrist of each attendee and chant more blessings.  The thread absorbs the vibrations from the blessings and becomes a visual reminder of the blessings and a form of protection, as well.  Often, the blessed thread is white, but, the multicolored thread is special because each color represents something special.   

At the same time, I reserved the date for the annual almsgiving I hold at the end of the year or the beginning of the year.  We are having it at the end of December, this year, because that's when my daughter will be home.  So, this year, if all goes well, I would have started and ended the year with almsgivings!  

On Tuesday, I was grateful for:

- Being able to provide the thread for the temple blessing ceremony
- Being able to order online and having it delivered
- Being able to schedule the almsgiving
- Water for the garden
- A lovely day

Tuesday's joyful activities included getting the thread for the temple and booking the date for the almsgiving.  

Plans for Wednesday include tending to the garden with M and tidying up the house a bit.

How was your Tuesday?  What are your plans for Wednesday?