I built an insect home this spring. 4 compartments provide shelter and nesting place for ladybirds, solitary bees, lacewings and butterflies.

It took me several evenings and Saturday afternoons in the basement. Sawing, drilling, sanding, brooding. For a screen worker I’m not unhandy, but I never acquired any technical skill. A carpenter friend who made our kitchen used to draw his ideas on bits of fiberboard for me. I could never make out the perspective. He said it will work out fine, believe me. I did and it did.

So I didn’t bother with a plan this time. Just rummaged the piles of renovation leftovers in the basement and the back of the garden. And contemplated my way through. Working absorbedly and with urgency. There’s no straight cut or right angle on the whole contraption. But the little critters won’t mind.

It healed me, working like that. From now on, housing tiny souls is what I’ll do. I’ll try not to let the imperfections hold me back. And I’ll try not to let the imperfections of my own tiny soul’s housing get in the way of minding that I’m housed.