Three and a half glorious months in California.  Which is the most time I've actually lived here since 1987, the year we left San Franciso with baby Grant in tow and moved to Minneapolis.  So 23 years now, wow, hard to do when you only feel 30 something.

I've spent a lot of time alone, well, me and the dogs, but they don't talk much.  Dandy and Bode and I have walked a gazillion miles through trails covered in pine needles and up and down steep town streets lined with well loved miner's cabins and Victorian era frou-frou.  We've stood on massive piles of crushed rock left over from gold mining days.  I've spent a fair amount of time with my sister, though not as much as I'd have liked to spend.  I've spent some time with my Dad and sMom, again not as much as I'd have liked.  But it wasn't that "vacation" mode visiting, where you hurry from one activity to the next and never really get to talk.  I love to see my family doing the everyday things in their lives, running errands, trying to decide what to have for dinner, bickering with each other, sitting outside on a sunny day watching the dogs play, working in the barn, going to a not very good play and standing in front of masses of roses deciding just which bunch would make her the happiest. (Note to self - forget the flowers, buy more wine.)

I love these people, none of us are easy to live with, all of us are worth the trouble.  Now I have five more sleeps until I head back to the Midwest and I miss them already.  I doubt I can live away from them happily ever again and I find it interesting that I learn this so late in my life. I've always been the independent wanderer and I'm proud that I was able to make a life so far from home.  It's true that after an event like a heart attack you do some serious soul searching.  "If my time is short, where do I really want to spend it and with whom?" And while my time has not been shortened I still feel like I need to look carefully at what remains.

Mostly I just want to say thank you.  I'll send a generic THANKS out to the skies for life and family and friends and classic movies, teardrop trailers and dreams.  Because I haven't had dreams for a long time and suddenly there they are and it's good.

Musings

Once I was the leaf floating down the river with no ability to direct my course. I floated along, twisting and turning in the current, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. I loved being born upon the water, seeing the trees and clouds overhead. But leaves are insubstantial things and eventually I started to fray. Rather than crumble and sink I thought I would stand fast and make the river go around me.

I became the rock in the river, raging against the current. I held my ground as the water rushed over and around me, never yielding, standing solid. I collected moss and all around me the tender things existed for a time and still I stood in my pride and stubborness, alone...and slowly being worn away.

I let go. Now I am the river, everchanging waters running both deep and shallow, cool and warm, furious and soothing. I know now that even though my course shall be changed by fate or man nothing can stop the river running to the sea.

Rain, Rain, Rain...

I can't say go away because water is always welcome here, but couldn't we have a bit of sun in between?

Day two of endless rain: We just got back from a very soggy walk. Bode is a mudder, he trots along as if this wet stuff is great fun and especially likes puddles and the streams forming in the gutter. Dandy gamely trots along, ears sideways, eyes squinched up. He hates it but will do anything that I want, what a great guy!

Then we dripped and shook water all over the floor and I tossed all the wet towels into the washing machine.

And yes, it's still better than being home, 30 degrees is nice but the walking would be cold and the road icy in patches, yuck. It's wonderful to be able to stride out and not worry about slipping.

Sunny Day in Grass Valley

Great day today! We went for a walk at the Empire Mine and actually met another Cardigan on our walk. We were beginning to think we were the only ones here. There are a lot of wonderful Pembroke owners. They have stopped us to say Hi many times. They stop their cars and get out and visit, it's very cool. But it was grand to see a sweet 10 year old brindle boy with his owners Mary and David, hopefully we will meet again soon.

The Empire Mine is a great place for walking. Nice trails, lots of dogs and the occasional horse and many wonderful old mining machines, tailing piles and the odd piece of metal sticking out of the ground. I'll post some pics soon.

I'm tired now, not even 7 pm and I'm ready for bed. Luckily the boys are tired too after our morning walk and another long evening walk through the piney woods behind a local school. We played frisbee, picked up bits of wood for the fire, watched a model airplane fly and ran and ran as usual.

Enough for tonight. I've got to sum up life in Rehab after two weeks here tomorrow.

Too Marvelous Other views

This one shows the lampwork bead by Graciebeads a bit better. She's one of my major inspirations!

Too Marvelous for Words

This piece is called "Too Marvelous for Words". I should have named it "Sore Fingers". The central stone is a peruvian opal, the others are hill tribe silver and fabulous lampwork from Graciebeads, plus accents of carnelian and trade beads. Hope you like it!

Practice makes perfect!

I'm just trying out my new Blog site.