I remember lying in the hammock, with my journal in hand, sketching the tree in 2014.
Here’s a brief 4-minute interlude that I hope you’ll take me up on right now.
It’s dark outside as I create this post and return to thinking about the tree. I trust that ki’s still there, just outside my window, a faithful witness to my morning devotion and guide for my contemplation.
If you haven’t yet followed the link above, you may be wondering about the word, “ki.” I have always struggled with referring to a body in nature as “it” and I am grateful to Robin Wall Kimmerer for presenting this beautiful alternative. Her explanation is in the short article found at the link.
2014
2015
2017
2018
2019
“Seven Years of Wonder” is a daily look back at my creative journaling posts since 2014. I began this journey on Feb. 11, 2021, and hope to continue through Feb. 10, 2022. What am I learning about my art and faith journey thus far? What has remained constant? Where have I been changed? How is this impacting present and future art-making?
A deep bow of gratitude to you for keeping me company on this journey.
vonda drees art 
Thank you so much. After reading the link, it came back to me, from the first time I read it. I may even have a copy from 2014 hiding in the endless files on my computer. Language is my form of art. I also remember the flower from 2019 – an Iris of some kind. We had some along the sidewalk in Inninois, given to us by a friend. They are hardy and beatiful.
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Thank you, Vonda, for sharing the wonderful article “Nature Needs a New Pronoun.” Something inside of me has always felt this and I’ve always named the plants and animals (and cars) around me. When we planted a new tree in our yard, the home owner’s association rules said it had to be a live oak. I named her Annie. I take time to go out every now and then and hug Annie, welcoming her to our living space or telling her she is looking good, really growing, and I can’t wait for the time when I will be able to sit in the gift of her shade. The large plants in the back are named Myrtle (as in crepe), the blooming flowers that fill our beds are (specific color goes here) Lily (as in day), the blooming plant in my kitchen is Violet (African) and many others. I knew a pine tree on a hill behind my house as a child that I called Fred (Mr. Rogers). Lee thought, and maybe still does think, I’m crazy for such behavior but I feel connected to the life and the energy of these living things. As much as I like the article, I’m not going to change my plants names to ‘ki’ because I don’t want to offend them. I’ll save ‘ki’ and ‘kin’ for newcomers until I get to know their name.
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I love this, Robin, so much! Knowing you, it feels quite natural that this would be your practice. You made my day.
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