HNT #16: Shadow Sides

I'm awake way too late, to the point where I'm sort of giddy. I've been doing that a lot lately. I spend time puttering about doing this or that, and here I am awake at the most vulnerable hour of the night. Steve hasn't come home yet. He's been working kerwonky hours, pushed by project deadlines. I'm not necessarily staying up for him, but I suppose there's a semi-conscious wish to share his schedule. Tonight actually is his night to spend time with his beloved Krissy...so she too perhaps is awake during the witching hour.

Tonight I was gathering the materials for a Dharma School project. (Buddhist Sunday School.) I have sand, little polished rocks, miniature rakes, and not quite enough cardboard jewelry boxes for miniature zen gardens. I got the dollhouse rakes off ebay, in sets with mini hoes and shovels. They were the best buy...maybe I'll turn around and sell the extra pieces. I also got molds for fimo for tiny Buddhas, Kwan Yins, or lotus flowers. I didn't stop there, but bought a mold for me, turtles, and a mold for Krissy, an acorn. I've never worked with fimo, or rather sculpey, before. I need to bake some pieces to show the kids some examples. (They will mold their buddha figure, but take them home to bake.) As long as I'm baking, I'll try out that turtle mold, I thought.

Turtles have been of special significance to me. I once was one who hid. A hard shell kept me from even knowing myself, but it was through my Buddhist practice that layers of this shell dissolved. A vision years ago during meditation led me to turtles as my totem. I honor their presence in my life, including the gift of a living turtle that I've had for around ten years.

Then, I figured, as long as I am up this late, I may as well get my Half Naked Thursday photo posted. I was inspired by Regal's delightful raspberry, I hope she likes being emulated.

Shadows help bring definition to life, don't they?

Click through for the full photo:

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