Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Exactly enough...

It's amazing to me that I can zip along happily for months and months and then look back and realize that it was all wrong.  Maybe it was right to begin with but it evolved into not so great.

I'm talking about my living situation. I had not a clue about how to start living on my own. I was leaving a huge property, thousands of square feet, tens of acres, millions of plants and complete privacy. We found a nice house to rent.  It even looked a lot like the house I'd left, high ceilings, open and airy, sunny and warm.  It was ok.  It cost me a ton to heat and made me feel like I was wandering around in circles.  I couldn't find a cozy place. I hated living so far away from town.  I felt isolated.

By a lucky chance I was in the middle of a house purchase and so did not want another long term lease.  I had to hurry and find a new place to live.  I found this little apartment, one block away from downtown, old and sort of bohemian, eclectic and comfortable.  Turns out it's perfect.  I don't have space for everything but I have space for the things that really matter to me.  I love the funky little kitchen, the huge covered porch, the music and food one block away, the huge enchanting green space to look at and play in, the friendly neighbors, the hidden walks that lead to the creek, the blackberries growing on the roadside, the very funny and often inebriated people downtown  who pet the boys and engage in long, rambling conversations, the gelato, the sense of peace, quiet, contentment, security, and knowing I've made the right choice for now.

I have a big storage unit packed with furniture and boxes of books and more but it can wait.  I'll open one or two and retrieve a few books, a vase or this and that but mostly it can all wait until I decide it's time to leave here and move on to my own house.  For now it's all good.  I'm filling up my walls with the beloved artwork that's arrived.

I love having my own space.  I love fixing a cup of espresso and sitting outside in the morning.  I love listening to music that makes me happy, a weird blend of country, blues, pop and world music.  I love being with my boys.  I love the town and the people in it.  I love heading over to my studio or into Grass Valley to work at the gallery.  Most of all I love the sense of freedom and of endless possibilities that are spread out in front of me.  Every day is exciting in some way.

This photo isn't very good, it's too light and too dark, but  you get the general idea.  And you can see Dandy happily curled up on his porch bed, waiting for me to finish and go for a walk.

May your day be filled with a sense of wonder.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Pretty things...

These flowers photos are from the Empire Mine.  The lilies are beautiful.  I could not get closer because they are growing in a pile of dead wood, not a great place to be this time of year.
The sweet peas are growing in huge mounds everywhere.
And some pretty things in progress on my bench.
Tomorrow morning my stuff arrives from Minnesota.  I'm so excited.  I'm so damn good at worrying I'll spend the night wondering if I've gotten a big enough storage locker and other silly things.  Once it's safely unloaded and packed away then I can relax, the last of the move will be done.  I know I'll have fun digging out a favorite book or a piece of artwork.  

Smiles

Friday, July 22, 2011

Wet...

The rare water Corgi attacks by vigorously shaking his body.

Here he is showing off his classy look and his rock climbing skills.
The river rock is extremely beautiful, sculpted by a LOT of very fast running water for a LONG time.
What a heavenly place.

Peace to you.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

River Corgis

You don't see them very often as they tend to be shy and elusive.  These are lurking in the shadows hoping for friendly hikers with cheeseburgers or maybe some chicken.

Will he ever get brave enough to swim? The tail would make a great rudder.
Peace

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Baby Boy

This is me and my newborn son 25 years ago.

This is him now.
He's a very cool guy.  I'm so lucky he came into my life.

Peace

Friday, July 08, 2011

Bad hair day

Bode rolled in something stinky so I drove them over to the self dog wash for baths.  Bode is looking fluffy here but he's still wet, pretty cute though. Now he looks all sleek and silky, one more bath next week should get the rest of the undercoat out so he's ready for the really hot summer days.

I'm fascinated by the really, really big granite rocks scattered about.
It's a little easier to see the size with this rock and dogs photo.
You either build the roadway around them or blast through them.

It's cooled off a little.  The weather couldn't be any better.

Peace

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

It's gonna be a bright, bright, bright, sunshiny day!

He's a traveling man and one of my best friends.  He sees beauty in the weather, the birds, the flowers, landscapes, rivers, cranky old kitties and any kind of machinery.  It's wonderful to be able to share the world through his eyes.

Thanks!

Peace

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Yum!

This is Pixie.
Smaller, faster, more concentrated, early morning bliss.  Otherwise known as Espresso.  Coffee has lost it's attraction for me lately.  I don't have time to sit around and drink a whole cup and generally pour most of an empty pot out the next morning.  So, I thought I'd try this compact little darling.  It's great!  The little coffee pods are easy to use and not terribly expensive, less than sixty-five cents.

I like changes.  It's fun, interesting, amusing, enlightening, re-charging and generally a good thing.  Of course, I'm trying to make changes with thought and wisdom, though often I will allow my emotions to run riot, which isn't always a good thing.

The changes I've made lately have been solidly soul satisfying.  While walking the dogs down a tree lined trail in Nevada City yesterday it struck me that this is my place.  Getting back to this area was very good but landing in the heart of NC seems to be a further step in the right direction.  I cannot stop smiling.  There are other things that may need to be changed but I'll work on that one day at a time.  The right path will reveal itself as I go.

Great day to you.

Monday, July 04, 2011

Enchanted Garden

Life is so good.  The air is warm and sweet with scents of roses and several varieties of flowering trees. We're settled in fairly well, gradually finding places for everything.  It was 100 degrees yesterday in Roseville on my shopping expedition, maybe 10 degrees cooler here. I took the boys out into the garden to sit in the shade and toss the frisbee a little.  Here are some photos from my Droid.

Old fireplace on the big patio.  This patio is just begging for people and fun though I may have to do some raking and weeding first.

Around here if you find a rock in your garden it's probably best to leave it.  Thinking you can brush the dirt away and dig it out may be futile.
The joy of living in a very old community (yes, I know, old by American standards anyway) means you will find bits and pieces of unusual rock re-purposed for building projects.  What was this piece carved for originally, before it was used to hold up a roadway?
Happy Independence Day!  My countrymen and women have good hearts and a fierce dedication to justice and mercy.  I'm pleased and proud to be part of it.  We are still a young nation but we are at our best when things are worst.

Peace