Sunday Still Life is an evolving mindfulness project; a weekly invitation to pause the busy of our days, to re-center and celebrate the beauty and depth of life. If you are leave inspired to join in, please leave a link in Erin’s comments.

Sometimes I wonder how many times I’ll underestimate this kid before I get it right. Last week at a Halloween party she very patiently watched the big kids bob for apples tied to a tree. When they were done, she marched up and signed apple to me. Within seconds I started to say no, that it was a big kid activity as I mentally ticked off “the facts”. The apples are too high, her coordination would not allow her to bite in to the apple, the game was done…etc. But she stood her ground. In fact she did better than that. She marched over to the mom/hostess/witch and pointed to the apple tree and signed me.  This good witch leaned down, plucked her up and made her way over to the tree with a fresh apple. The Quail fixed her gaze on her target and started bobbing. She can play. It’s only those of us with preconceived notions in our heads, if not our hearts  that keep her from it sometimes.