Mindfulness does not require adding something new. It’s about noticing what is already here. What is one ordinary moment you’d like to experience more fully this week? The birdsong that fills the air when you let your dog out first thing in the morning? Your first sip of tea? The way the sun that shines through a small front door window creates a patch of light your furry friend has found more quickly than you? This week, where might you like to slow down enough to notice, or to remember?

In today's world, great emphasis is placed on what many call "progress." We must run faster, grow bigger, and eschew the old in place of the new. But in this effort, we often lose sight of what we already have. We miss what is here with us, right now, in this very place. In nature, many animals thrive because they know a specific place very well, and they return there again and again. (And based on what I see of my bird and squirrel friends in my backyard, they frequently do so at around the same time every day!) In birding, a "patch" is a place we return to often. While it is exciting to spot a new bird and explore a new place, there is a comfort and intimacy that comes whenever we return to our patch. We begin to notice rhythms, and as the season shifts, changes that might go undetected by those less familiar. We learn to notice and appreciate the small things. We might even learn to apply this to other areas of our lives. That's my hope for this community. The Patch is a place where we will practice paying attention to the things that matter in our everyday lives and being present for them. You are invited to join, and to return, whenever you can. You will always be welcome here. For today, I'd love to get to know you. I invite you to say "hello" in the comments, and if you're willing, to share something small you noticed or appreciated lately. It could be a bird at your feeder or a quiet moment that made you smile. Welcome to Your Patch. Amanda

What have you baked, crocheted, grown, painted, written, photographed, mended, built, or noticed this week? In reading our members' bios and answers to the community membership questions, it is apparent we have a group of makers, creators, and dreamers. Patchwork will be our weekly place to gather and share what we have been making. Patchwork is a collection that grows over time, and each piece is unique . . . just like the members of our community. Let's create something beautiful together. To share, comment below. If you would like, you can attach a photo to your post by selecting the paperclip "attach" button and choosing the file from your phone or computer. P.S. I hope you will spread the love and cheer on our members as they share what they have made. A "like" can go a long way :)