Saturday, December 31, 2011

Best of 2011

2011 is on her way out...


But before she goes
I want to remember the best of what she brought...
~
the healthy and joyful arrivals of 
Ayden and Kaitlyn


Getting to be present for Kaitlyn's birth was THE highlight of my year
~
Frosting on the cake
was...


All the special moments with family
~
All the public and private moments that make me full of 
gratitude
wonder
joy
contentment
~

All the special experiences
in 
nature and at my beloved writer's retreat
at The Porches
(Where my blogging journey began) 


Celebrations
new additions
firsts
friendships old and new
travel
~
looking over the year I have 
a great big smile
and 
a full heart
~
Thank you
all of you
in my ever widening circle of
family, friends, writers, bloggers, artists
YOU 
have made my year complete!

Friday, December 30, 2011

Simplicity



Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown


Yesterday a dear blogger goddess
sent me "The Simple Living Pledge" to consider 
for the new year...
~
Her timing was PERFECT
as once again
I had over committed
~
The Simple Living Pledge

I pledge to live a simple life through: - decluttering; - using less; - learning to be sustainable in all aspects of life; - slowing down and finding joy in little things; - reconnecting with my inner self; - spending more time with my loved ones; - elevating experiences above possessions.
(And for me I'm adding...)
Letting go of the burden of "obligation"
Go here to read more and to take the pledge
~
I don't know about you
but obligation is encoded in my DNA
a reflexive response to any request
with a hearty,
 "Sure, that would be great!"
 "No Problem!" 
"I'd love to!"
~
Then either immediately
or when the 'event' arrives
I'm standing there scratching my head saying
"WHAT WAS I THINKING?"
~
Come on admit it...
I KNOW I am not the only one does this
~
So this new year
along with
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
~
I am adding
Re-choose 




Wednesday, December 28, 2011

What the heck...


This is what I feel like when I over commit
~
and that is what I have done
said yes too many times without thinking
~
have you ever done that? 
~
Don't you just hate it?
I was just reminded yesterday by my daughter that I was 
coming up for a visit next week
~
I had totally forgotten!
~
Now I have to either suck it up
or hurt someone's feelings
and THAT I just can't stand
~
So between now and New Years
I have two dinner parties 
one photo shoot
go to the movies with friends
a birthday celebration
finish the twelve days of Christmas
prepare for a trip next week
plus my normal forty hour a week job
Riiiiiight I mutter...


What would make me happy would be to
go to the birthday celebration
 do the photo shoot
get the last bits off the the grandkids
~
Note to self:
DO NOT SAY YES....EVER...
WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT AT LEAST FOR A DAY...
and 
ALSO considering all the LIFE that might happen
between now and then. 
~
I will get through it though
I always do
~
A little battered and brain dead
~
Just another thing to add to my 
2012 Manifesto
~
Have you started yours yet?


Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The day after the day after....

Christmas 
came and went


relaxed



 mellow


low key
for the most part
~
Except for a
slight malfunction with the plumbing
(so we had no use of water in the front part of the house)
and 
NO WAY were we going to call a plumber on Christmas day!
~
no problem
~
 we skipped Christmas dinner (and the associated mess and hassle)
and just did snacky finger foods 
which was GREAT! 
~
We went for a walk on the beach

which was perfect
~
warm sunshine
salty air
tumbling surf


calm baby
happy parents


happy dog!


When we got home
we picked some fresh oranges



 added some  champagne


and just chilled.


As the day fades into the past
~
I will remember it as a day
where we
~
Chatted, napped, read, nibbled, shared gifts 
that were personal, useful, creative
~
A day that was 
authentic
 uncomplicated
and full of ease (despite the glitch in plans)
~
all because of my darling family
~
Pretty much perfect.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Looking forward to tomorrow...


I will miss this
tomorrow
~
when the grand kids look outside 
to see 
if the reindeer ate the carrots and oatmeal
left as a tasty snack
~
I will miss reading the letters 
to and from Santa
~
the noise
and excitement
~
Tomorrow will be fun
for a different reason


Tomorrow is Kaitlyn's 
first Christmas and she is a riotous celebration unto herself
~
Here's wishing everyone
a fun filled Night before Christmas
~
may all the last little details be finished with ease
and joy







Friday, December 23, 2011

A Star...

will have
no star atop my tree
~
rather
I hold a star from the sea
~
I feel
 it nudge my hand
~
whispering
"remember me"
~
and then
~
I place it gently back
~
grateful
~
  a star held me


will not have
tinsel and lights 
strung from the branches 
of the Christmas tree
~
no bulbs and bobbles
~
rather
I will witness the twinkle 
of 
~
the dew and lace nature
strung to catch the early morning light



My gifts
~
simple
~
handmade
~
heart felt
~
few


It's time
~
to "re-member" 
~
the precious presents
~
the day to day moments we take for granted
~
family, friends, health, generosity, good will, warm homes, soft beds
~
Wishing all the most joyous, fulfilling, peaceful, inspiring, genuine and precious celebration
of life

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Let it Snow....



Southern California is nice an all
but
Christmas just isn't the same without snow
~
tree lights
hot cocoa
wrapping gifts
a fire
bulky sweaters
even Christmas music
are not the same 
without 
that good ole mood maker
snow
~
There is an intimacy 
a coziness
and warmth
to looking out the window 
and watching snow fall
~
There is something to be said for
The Four Seasons
(and I don't mean the resort)

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Unremarkable...


This photograph would be considered unremarkable by many standards
the lighting, subject, porportion -- off
nothing really "pops" 
No WOW factor
But in reality
it is sunset at the beach
and that alone makes it remarkable
~
Today is
the winter's solstice
~
the shortest day of the year for us 
here in the Northern Hemisphere
~
It is a day of celebration when
the light and warmth of the sun seems
most distant
~
It is a time to slow way down 
reflect
"re"member 
as in
slowly piece back together
the essence of who we are
and 
what truely matters
~
things like
~
grattitude
compassion
humor
wisdom
joy
~
these things aren't dependent on
disposible income
status
obligation
expectation
spiritual orientation
~
they are dependent on
each and every one of us to
reconize and exercise our will power 
to
appreciate and expand our privilidge as human beings
(the evolved species)
by 
 conciously decovering 
and then
deciding to contribute what makes us unique
~
Like the sunset
we have the WOW factor
simply by being
~
 being  human we get 
to choose 
how we experience the world

Monday, December 19, 2011

ART...

I LOVE this young artist...
and
since a friend and I are taking an art class in the new year
I thought it fitting
to share the questions
that led to the decision
to say YES
to 
ART!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Flying high...



 This his how I felt once I decided to skip 
the holiday madness


 a lightness of being
as if lifted from the fray
of insanity that accompanies obligation



free of guilt
for not 
following the norm



My spirit took flight


knowing
today I could go to the bird sanctuary
rather than 
to the mall


 hushed whispers of wings and air
 cool morning twilight
~
 aware of 
the delicate balance required
to see from another perspective



what is important


in an instant
I was transported 
to a place of 
tranquil calm
~
I am not alone 
but rather surrounded by a
powerful and profound reality of the infinite



birds don't care about the holidays
they care about fresh water
healthy food sources
a place of refuge 
to sleep, mate
raise their young
~
Their wants and needs
are simple




How is it our feathered friends 
have a more balanced perspective 
on how to celebrate the glory
of the All Mighty?

Saturday, December 17, 2011

It'll be our little secret...



I made an executive decision
I won't be "doin" Christmas this year
~
No tree
~
No baking
~
No Christmas cards
~
No standing in lines
~
No extra VISA bills
~
No presents for the sake of getting presents
~
It's like Christmas and I are 'breaking up' 
~
Something else has caught my eye
~
and
Not ONE person I know needs any more
STUFF
~
So I will give the 
Twelve Days of Christmas 
to the grand kids
(since I already had that) 
~
and I will donate what 
CASH 
I could have spent on "the holiday" to 
the USE-LESS water project

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Little Ayden...

This is my last night with little Ayden 
so today while mom and dad were out
we did a little photo shoot 


And I am wondering while I am taking the pictures 
if there is a way to embed a Nana's love in a photograph


I am wondering if
when these little eyes look at me
she knows 
just how much I love her


I never thought there would be anything more powerful than a mother's love
but
I am here to tell you that nothing compares to the love that 
experience, distance, time, and wisdom harvests


It is like these little babies arrive like a drink of water to a wilting flower
giving me the elusive hope and fortitude to carry on


There is a twinkle in her eyes
and 
her smile is infectious
her laugh contagious
her trust fully and completely intact


Do you remember when your trust was full and undiluted? 
Would you not just give everything to feel so completely
whole 
and in awe of the world


Are they not the reason for the season,
to celebrate
the joy and wonder in the most simple of things the world has to offer?

Tuesday, December 13, 2011


Achillies

This is what I open my eyes to if I don't make sure my door is closed when I go to bed


Achillies LOVES to play fetch
He has no shame
he will play with ANY one



and I am a sucker
because I can't say NO
He will sit and look at me 
for hours
~
patiently waiting


I mean seriously
Could you say no to that face?

Monday, December 12, 2011

While the Who's lay a snooze in their town...


Doesn't it look like it is out of the book How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Every year they find a different way to string the lights


The whole village is covered with pin pricks of light
hundreds of trees
it is like walking through a fairy land


I'm not well versed in night photography
No tripod
Hands shaking
No clue on shutter speed
or 
aperture


just a girl wondering around the village at 6:00 a.m.
lucky I wasn't arrested
no woman in her right mind would be out  at the hour
with the temperature way below freezing


but I just couldn't resist the urge to
take a intimate walk in the village
without the crowds and cars
~
Just me and my camera
and the stillness and magic
of darkness and lights
in a village that slumbers