Nomadic Notebook

Questioning Myself...

2012-01-31T12:51:00.000-08:00

i just finished a new powerpoint presentation. it’s about contemplative photography. it’s a topic near and dear to my heart and i’m pleased with how it all turned out. i would love to do a little workshop on this topic, but i have to be honest. i have absolutely no confidence that anyone would come.

i know that this probably sounds like i’m beating myself up – like a case of the old demons, creeping up behind me and craftily wielding their wily wands. in part, that may be true. when i come up with something new, i have trouble believing that it will be well-received. and i’ve successfully moved past that stuckness on many occasions.

but another part of this is actually based on experience. i’m starting to realize more and more that my creative passions are somewhat out of the mainstream. for instance, the average person who would take a photography class is more interested in developing technical skill than in wanting to use photography as a form of meditation…..

so what happens if the things that you want to teach are not things that most people want to learn?? i have really been struggling with this lately. i have put soooo much time and effort into creating various presentations and curriculums for things that i am passionate about and, for the most part, i don’t know what to do with them.

i suppose there are others out there somewhere who would resonate with them, but i’m not at all sure i have what it takes to go about finding them. sorry to be on a bit of a downer here…. just trying to keep it real. and i know that no matter what, i need to follow my own path and not one that is designed by the demands of others.... sigh...

curious if any of you have ever felt this way.... it's entirely possible that it's just me.

In Our Own Backyard

2012-01-28T11:57:00.000-08:00

Hotel del Coronado and Coronado Bridge

first of all, thank you soooo much for your support and comments regarding my inside out project idea! i have created an “inside out” page you can click on to read more details. as things develop, i will update the page and keep it in the tabs above.

now, for the backyard….do you have cool places close to you that you rarely visit? in san diego we have lots of these. places we like but we tend to save for visiting guests. some of the places, like the one here – cabrillo national monument – don’t allow dogs so we have stayed away for a loooong time.

but in the “venturing” spirit, we decided to drop everything right in the middle of the week and head down there. ok, it didn’t hurt that we have been having summer-like weather over here for quite a while now!

there’s an amazing old lighthouse:

and a new lighthouse too:

and a hike:

and best of all, those fabulous views of the city!

lest you all start packing your bags and heading over…. (although seriously, i would love that!) i should probably make it clear that this isn’t entirely typical. it happens, but right now is usually the heart of the rainy season…. complete with fog, drizzle and gray skies… probably just delayed until february!


Juan Cabrillo

Thanks for stopping!!

I Have a Dream....

2012-01-26T09:53:00.000-08:00

yes i do. it started out as a tiny little seed and it seems to be growing. you see, i have witnessed and experienced firsthand the power that art and journaling and creative expression in general can have in women’s lives (and i’m guessing if you are reading this that you have too!) power to heal. power to inspire. power to bolster self-esteem and enable women to do amazing things.

i’m drawn to wanting to harness a little of this power and put it to work where it is needed most. not in the lives of women who have every advantage already, but in the lives of those who don’t. those who are hurting. those who are struggling. those who are in crisis.

these women need to tell their stories. they need to document their lives in a way that feels meaningful. they need to write. to paint. to draw. to clarify their feelings and have a record of their journeys. i’m convinced that doing so could be life-changing.

my dream is to find as many women like this as possible and to get art/journaling materials in their hands. i want the journals to be very special. lovely books with lined and unlined pages, filled with images, words and quotes that can calm and uplift the spirit (i have started working on this!) a small stash of art supplies. and a stack of optional specific prompts to get them started. maybe even a way for them to connect and/or share their work.

i’m pretty passionate about this idea…. but i know i cannot do it alone. MANY details are yet to be determined. so i wanted to throw it out there and gather as much input, info, ideas, suggestions etc. etc. as possible. please feel free to chime in - the more feedback the better!! i believe in the power of this community and i know that together we can pretty much move mountains...

you are awesome and i THANK YOU!!

p.s. i forgot to tell you what the project is called:

INSIDE OUT (discovering what's INSIDE and bringing it OUT)

Little More AZ (a venture)

2012-01-23T09:56:00.000-08:00

Sonoita, AZ

it may not seem like a road trip to arizona would be much of a “venture” in terms of stepping out of my comfort zone since it’s the kind of thing we tend to do anyway.

Patagonia Lake State Park

let me explain. we planned this trip when we still had muffin. we found a dog-friendly vrbo rental in a place where we could hike as well as do some sight-seeing. it’s the kind of trip the 3 of us really enjoy.

so when we lost her, sooner than we had anticipated, the idea of the trip no longer sounded enticing. it felt too soon, like we would be missing her too much. we seriously considered scrapping the whole idea.


Tombstone

Tombstone Courthouse

in the end, though, we decided that it would still be a good trip to take. that it would do us some good to get away. so we decided to venture out and go for it. we are so glad that we did!

this area (south of tucson) is a pretty obscure part of the country. most folks have never heard of patagonia, sonoita, canelo or fort huachuca. these are exactly the types of places we are drawn to. i guess it’s the “explorer” instinct. anyway, it’s an area rich in natural beauty, history and fabulous climate. good stuff!!

Bisbee

i have a little retreat update here. check it out and have a marvelous monday!!

Ramsey Canyon Preserve


Karchner Caverns State Park (no photos allowed in caverns)

Our ranchette

AZ skies

Surrounded

2012-01-19T09:27:00.000-08:00

connection seeps from the pores

of each little piece

of art and writing

i have surrounded myself with

artists i know and love

and some i have never met

stand before me

offering up a portion

of their very personal energy

and, yes, a portion of their souls

my own work,

is intermingled in the mix…

we sit here together

immersed in the beauty of it all

this is truly a sacred space

these are the thoughts that occurred to me after spending a whole week cleaning and reorganizing my little studio. before and after below.....

(of course i know it won't last!!)

Slowing the Flight of Time.....

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

i wanted to share one more safari park post, but this time minus the main attraction, the animals. of course they are fabulous, but i always like to take some time away from them when i’m at the park. i have a couple of special spots where i like to hang out with my coffee and journal.

hardly anyone comes up there, but alas, they are missing this amazing display of desert plants. while i was marveling at them and photographing them i realized anew that the best antidote to that feeling that time is ”flying” by unaccounted for is to spend as much of it as possible being fully present in the moment.

for me it’s harder to do this when i’m around other people. it comes much easier when i’m by myself…. hence, my love of solitude. it allows me to really dig into each moment, utterly awake, and bask in that precious feeling of being fully alive.

and when life is experienced in this manner…. one moment at a time, it slooooows down and doesn’t feel nearly as “flighty”. try it!!

Look Into My Eyes....

2012-01-13T07:23:00.000-08:00


Look into my eyes....

Wake up, sleepyhead....

Oh, all right, you need your beauty sleep.

I love you....


There's a reason they call me the king of beasts!

(Safari Park 1/12/12)

VRBO (travel tips!)

2012-01-10T10:17:00.000-08:00

Most recent vrbo in southern arizona

do you know about it?? if not, you are missing out! unless we are traveling in the motorhome, we rely on vrbo (vacation rentals by owner) for an awesome complete home (with view!) in whatever area we are visiting. there are other vacation rental sites as well like homeaway and vacationrentals.com, but vrbo has by far the most extensive network and greatest selection.

our first vacation rental was about 5 years ago in washington right on the straight of juan de fuca. we loved having the privacy of an individual home and really enjoyed all the little amenities that it offered. plus it can be much less expensive than staying at a nice hotel! since then we (or me by myself) have stayed at lots of other homes in different areas.

the homes are posted by owners, although some have managers that handle everything for them. you can contact them by email or phone to ask questions. since each one is individual, there is a wide range of different prices, policies, etc. they all post pictures – some are pretty sketchy and some are so extensive you can visualize every room before you see it! some owners are very accommodating and responsive…. others not so much, so there is some risk involved.

Taos, New Mexico

Julian, San Diego county

Palomar Mountain

Nederland, Colorado

here are a couple of tips for finding your dream home (even if only temporarily!):

do your homework (it's fun!) look at the other available homes in the area, compare prices and amenities before making a decision ( i usually end up spending tons of time on this, but have been so happy with my choices in the end!)

read the reviews – but realize that each one is just one person’s opinion!

decide what factors are non-negotiable for you. for us, it’s usually pet-friendly, VIEW and privacy. we are not picky about the rest if we have those!

if you can travel off-season or mid-week, you can usually save $$.

sometimes owners are negotiable with their price. in some cases, i have worked out deals in return for taking additional pics and/or writing up a positive review of the place. we have also been successful at times with having the owners waive the cleaning fee by leaving the place just as we found it.

This one on Lake Michigan was really run down on the outside

But who cares??

if you want to try it and have questions, let me know (my email is in the "about")

now that we are thinking of venturing beyond the confines of the usa, we have discovered a whole new WORLD of vrbo out there!! We'll see where it leads us.....

Meditation hut at the Taos rental

New Year.... New Word!!

2012-01-07T08:15:00.000-08:00

this word presented itself to me several weeks ago. more or less out of the blue. i tried it on for size. then let it sit a while. it felt right but lately i’ve had some doubts… i mean there are other words that i “like” better. maybe it’s seeing everyone else’s words and second guessing myself (um, yes, i have a tendency to do that!) but in the end it’s a personal decision. it has to feel right at this particular time and move me forward in new ways.

2 years ago, when i started playing along with the word game (i totally resisted it because i really hate doing stuff just because everyone else is doing it…) i ended up choosing JUSTBE. i had recently had to deal with a fairly abrupt and unplanned early retirement. my head was bouncing randomly in all sorts of different directions… trying to figure out what was next in my life. i felt the need to concentrate on “being” instead of “doing”. this focus turned out to be super powerful in my life and its influence continues to this day…

once i was able to reign in my rebel thoughts and focus more on being present, i felt the need to IMAGINE the possibilities, in a somewhat structured way. i did a lot of “organized brainstorming”, regular journaling and art journaling. this has lead me down some new and interesting roads and i plan to continue those practices!

but at some point, you have to move beyond ideas… to step up and VENTURE out. to try new things. to reach beyond your comfort zone. to take some risks. in my younger years, i did a lot of this sort of thing, but i seem to have settled somewhat with age… often opting for the “comfortable”. so i want to step it up a bit…. i’m still young enough to do some VENTURING!!

so there you have it!

(oh - it hasn’t escaped me

that the cousin to VENTURE is

(AD)VENTURE)….

stay tuned!!


Me embracing the new year!!

(all photos taken this past week in southern arizona)

AZ Magic

2012-01-04T10:44:00.000-08:00

filled to the brim

blessed beyond belief

i’ve been feasting on...

magical light

endless open spaces

meditation

quiet so thick

you could cut it with a knife

stillness, stars, solitude

coupled with culture and conversations

what a way to begin a brand new year!

Our little ranchette (no, this is not expensive!!)

Saying Good-Bye to "Imagine"

2011-12-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

as the year winds down and i start thinking about a new word for 2012, it also means it’s the end of my “imagine” year. i find i’m reluctant to let it go…. partly because i don’t think i’ve arrived at my imagine-destination and also because i just really like the word and want to continue to incorporate it into my life. after all, i named my studio after it – which of course means that it will continue to be very present for me!

the way i'm trying to look at this is that each word adds some new dimensions and practices to my life, therefore altering it permanently. so it’s not that at the end of the year that’s it and there’s no more imagine. no, no,no, it should now be ingrained, just as the practices from my “justbe” year have become. i think they build on each other, helping us to evolve in new and interesting ways. they take an idea that resonates with us on a deep level and prompt it to become intentional.

so although i have not necessarily transformed myself into a wildly imaginative person…. imagine has led me into some new practices that have become important to my everyday routines. i still take my notepad, pen and camera (usually phone) on every hike. sometimes nothing results, but i can’t tell you the wealth of fabulous shots i have encountered and ideas that i never would have remembered. a really small thing that has had some amazing results!

i also spend a little time most days with my “brain-storming” journal. quite often i end up looking over old ideas (and sometimes being a little overwhelmed) as opposed to writing down new ones, but it’s good way not to forget them. it keeps me focused and organized. i have my journal categorized into different topics, so there is a lot of good stuff in there!

all in all, i do think it helps having that word as a reminder. there is soooooo much information and stimulation out there. i find it really easy to get distracted, so having the word to come back to is a good thing. have you chosen one??

i'm scheduling this to post one minute before midnight on new year's eve so......

HAPPY NEW YEAR - the best is yet to come - believe it!!!!

Combining

2011-12-29T09:04:00.000-08:00

i’ve been doing some work with textures lately. i’ve known about this technique for a while but haven’t really taken the time to explore it much until recently. it’s super easy and fun! it’s really just a way to combine 2 photos and end up with some very different looks.

and apparently it is a bit more eye-catching than straight photos since i hung a few of these in my local gallery this month and sold 2 of them!

i’m noticing that i’m drawn to a lot of different art forms that involve combining. like collage. and mixed media. and even music that combines different styles in the same song. and dance pieces that alternate segments with various styles. hmmmm.

in other news, we have decided to take a little road trip. by time you read this we should be tooling along the interstate. it was hard to get motivated for our first dog-less trip in a very long time….. but work is slow right now and it seemed a good idea to get away. more later…..

Traditions

2011-12-27T08:27:00.000-08:00

in general i’m not much for tradition. i mean i do believe it’s a wonderful thing, but it’s just not something i practice much. since we don’t have kids or family in the area, many holidays have been an excuse to travel or perhaps a chance to see friends or, in some cases, pretty much of a “non-event.”

the same does not apply to christmas eve however! it wasn’t exactly intentional, but we have established some traditions that have taken hold and prompted us to turn down many enticing invitations over the years in favor of our own little celebration. it’s something we both look forward to with great anticipation.

Movies

White Russians

Lotto tickets

Great food

Piles of poorly-wrapped fun presents (quantity, not quality!)

and while i’m not going to give away all of our secrets, i am giving you a few hints here with my pictures. every year we enjoy this so much that i think we should establish some other traditions, but alas, for whatever reason, it doesn’t seem to happen. hope you are establishing some of your own traditions!!

Traveling Thoughts.....

2011-12-24T06:30:00.000-08:00

thoughts are powerful

(that’s been proven)

my thoughts right now

are about you

yes you, dear reader

i’m thinking of you by name

right this very minute

(unless i don’t know your name –

but i’m still sending my thoughts)

bubbling up from my heart

and wafting out

into the atmosphere

in my mind they are traveling

on a sparkly sleigh

pulled by fresh-faced reindeer

they are wrapped

bowed, bedazzled and bejeweled

emblazoned with your name

and destined to touch your heart

the content of these festive parcels??

(while i hate to give away the surprise….

in this case it may just be wise)

there’s a big box of amazement

a bottle of calm in the chaos

a healthy dose of energy

some sprigs of optimism

a couple of vials of awareness

and a whole bunch of inspiration

all sprinkled with L.O.V.E.

can you hear the bells??

i think your package has arrived…

now go open it and feast on the goodies!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, my friends!!

Holiday Journal

2011-12-21T20:22:00.000-08:00

i dont think i have mentioned that i'm taking dawn de vries sokol's doodle 1231 class. i'm still kind of a newbie to art journaling and i thought it would be fun to add some holiday flare and be able to share my pages with others. we made a special journal for the class. i just used a simple composition book. i glued double pages together, then gessoed each one and applied some holiday colored paint.

she gives us a prompt every day along with some doodling ideas and sometimes videos to explain different techniques. i'm always a little shy about sharing stuff like this - it's not my area of "expertise". i look at other journal pages and then at mine and i cringe. but i'm all about letting go of comparisons and i need to practice what i preach!

some of the other participants started posting their pages in the class flickr group and i did too. i hadn't planned on sharing them here..... but here goes! it's out of my comfort zone but i want to say that by doing this i have been able to actually watch my pages improve.

and.... i had no idea how absolutely fun this was going to be. just doing the pages and then flipping through the resulting book. i love it!!!

Au Revoir

2011-12-19T12:17:00.000-08:00

Some sweet gifts from my friend

i first titled this post “another good-bye” and then changed my mind. yes, i did have to say good-bye to my sweet friend soraya last night because she is moving away, but it is not a final good-bye! we first connected here in cyberspace and we will keep right on doing so, through our blogs and email.

Last night

the way i see it, we were just incredibly lucky to be able to live close to each other for almost a year and spend some time hanging out and sharing our hearts. soraya is really someone special – someone that does not come into your life every day, and certainly does not come into your life by accident!

this girl is going places (in more ways than one!) her art is incredible and is starting to be noticed by the likes of somerset gallery and somerset studio. her blog is also like an evolving piece of art, in which she eloquently pours out her heart regarding art, creativity, mama-hood and all the journeys of life.

On my studio wall

so i’m so, so sorry to see her go, but colorado is not exactly on the other side of the world. there is a pretty good chance we will see each other again soon. so au revoir, my friend!!

Another momento

p.s. thank you ever so much for your sweet comments and emails following my last sad post. we are navigating each day and trying to concentrate on the celebration and giving spirit of the season to fill the void we are feeling. your thoughtfulness means the world!!

Letting Go

2011-12-14T15:19:00.000-08:00

Muffin 2000 - 2011

we rescued her over 8 years ago, when she was 3. she had already made a round of homes and had experiences which left permanent scars. her defensive demeanor wouldn’t be endearing to many potential owners, but we just loved her more for it and viewed her low growling as “purring”.

i was gone a lot, still working full-time and then some, and she and stu bonded like crazy glue. she worshipped the ground he walked on, lived and breathed to be in his presence and he ate it right up, taking her everywhere in his truck. when he got caught once by one of those annoying red-light cameras, there was no mistaking him – there was muffin in her usual spot, propped on his lap.

never having had kids, we have freely allowed our dogs to fill that void, completely inhabiting that place in our hearts that needs to nurture. our conversations at home involve and revolve around our furry friends to probably a ridiculous degree in most folks’ opinions. oh well.

we have had 4 dogs, all cocker spaniels, because, well, we like them and they are the perfect size and temperament for our traveling and hiking life-style. each one has been unique, but of the 4, muffin exhibited the most pronounced zest for life. she had a lot of voices and we didn’t mind triggering those, all in good fun.

so now comes the down-side of all that bonding. the time to let go. the time to say good-bye. the time to realize that our friends are only with us for a limited time – just long enough to teach us the lessons they are bringing. of course they live on in our hearts, but it is oh, so hard to say that final good-bye.

Light

2011-12-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

light is such a powerful metaphor

for all that is good

at anytime

but it takes on special significance

during the holidays

no matter what your belief system

light shining

dispelling the darkness

is something we all need

it’s universal

so when you see those twinkle lights

and icicle lights

and tube lights

and Christmas tree lights….

let them rekindle your own light

the one deep inside

let them ignite that spark

dispel whatever darkness

lingers within

and keep you shining

just the way

you were meant to be

(yes, i need that reminder too!)

Holiday Spirit

2011-12-07T11:25:00.000-08:00

i’m a little kid-like when it comes to the holidays. as soon as the turkey is digested, i start thinking maybe it is time to pull out the holiday plates, activate my special playlist and start decorating. rationally, i tell myself that december should really be the starting point for all this madness. after all, i don’t want to OD on it before the 25th. but, little by little, things get pulled from their long hibernation hideouts and start doing their part to make this a festive holiday.

at this point, the house is decorated and the tree is up. we’ve already attended our first holiday party and i’m working on cards. i’ve made some killer apple cranberry bread and given it away. and i’m determined not to get stressed. everything does not need to get done right now….. it will all happen in its own good time. and as i stated in a previous post: IT”S ALL CHRISTMAS. right now. this moment. we do not have to wait for one day to enjoy all the good things that this season has to offer. each little piece can bring us joy and meaning if we stay open to it.

having said all of that, i’m afraid it’s going to be kind of a rough one for us. our worst fears for our sweet muffin (bone cancer) seem to be coming true. after a respite that the medication provided, her limp has returned. i already have her presents wrapped and under the tree, but i am doubtful that she will be with us at that time. sigh. one day at a time at this point. though my heart is breaking, i am determined to look at the big picture and find joy in other things.

Raw Power

2011-12-03T11:40:00.000-08:00

today i witnessed raw power

stunning in its beauty

yet terrible in its force

power that goes right on

wielding itself

relentlessly

even in the absence of watching eyes

power that needs no recognition

no admiration or praise

because it just is

independent of thought

or of ego

bereft of a reason for being

it just is

and i,

mesmerized,

small

drenched in awe

in its presence

(could i get a little of that??)

Have You Found Yourself? (creatively?)

2011-11-30T07:22:00.000-08:00

i do know some artists who could answer this question in the affirmative. they have found their unique creative passion and are moving forward on it every day (or so it seems!) but for many of us, it can be more of a struggle.

i know so many creative folks who feel like they have not quite found their “niche”. or maybe their style. they love creating, but they are seeking a form of expression that is distinctively THEIRS. they are patiently (or not) waiting for that day when they will know exactly what that is.

i am one who would fall into that category for sure. i am trying new things and combinations of things, all the while thinking that something is going to “click” one day very soon and it will all be crystal clear. my future rolled out before me in a smooth, arrow-straight path steeped in creative bliss, beckoning me to hop on and take the first step.

but maybe that’s not ever going to happen…. i’m starting to get that. here’s the thing. i do not want to be living my life in a “waiting” mode. i want my focus to be right now. this day. this moment. it’s ok to feel as if i am not “there” because that’s just the way life is.

it keeps unfolding and evolving and sometimes you make false starts and end up going 2 steps forward and 3 steps back. but i want to be in the flow of it…. soak up each experience and learn to embrace the questions and the uncertainty. still working on it…


bye-bye november (!?!)

(all photos taken as part of one of my latest creative endeavors, the iphone!)

The Voice

2011-11-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

(no, not the tv show!)…. in our family, one person was gifted with a voice. not only a singing voice good enough to be the lead in a band that was wildly popular back in the day and even cut a few records that made the charts (the chevrons - oh, I wish I had some pics!), but a speaking voice that was distinctive enough to make a career choice so plain that no thought whatever had to go into it.


Not the Chevrons.... but another singing gig in the 60's

you see, my brother bob has always been a radio guy. he was up on the latest pop music while I was still a toddler, driving my parents just a little bit crazy with his constant “drum-beating” on the back of the car seat, even when the radio wasn’t on!

when i was in elementary school, he started his first radio station. it was housed in our basement and broadcast all the way to the next door neighbors’ house. pretty amazing. so it was no surprise when he landed his first radio dj job on the campus station while he was still a college student.

one thing led to another and eventually his radio name became a household word in grand rapids, michigan. he decided he wanted to raise his family there, so resisted offers to go to bigger markets, but he had plenty of work - not only on the radio, but doing voice jobs, mc-ing special events and even tv spots.

Always amazes me that he knows how to work all this stuff!

it was a thrill for me to have a “famous” brother – his distinctive voice could be heard all over town! (yet you couldn't find a humbler, more likable guy!!)

From the Grand Rapids Press, 2004

well, the last few years have been tough ones for local radio stations. live radio is becoming a rarity. in spite of station changes, take-overs, down-sizing and cut hours, bob always managed to keep something going. until last week. sadly, experience does not seem to count as much as youth these days and he was let go. no fanfare. no warning. no good-bye or thank you party.

so i thought it was only right that i pay a little tribute here in my corner to a long and successful career - ended too soon. love you, bob, and so sad to see this happen but glad i still get to hear your voice…. (on the telephone!)

Diversity

2011-11-23T12:22:00.000-08:00

“take a chance and openly give thanks,

even if you’re not sure what for,

and feel the plentitude of all that is living

brush up against your heart”

(mark nepo, from the book of awakening)

(what a book!)

thinking and writing about what i’m grateful for is not something i save for thanksgiving. i mean, sure, it’s nice to have a special day for it and all, but if gratefulness is not something that is incorporated into your life on a daily basis, well… then you are seriously missing the boat! because (in my opinion) it’s what makes the difference between just existing day to day and truly living a meaningful life, no matter what your circumstances. (i don’t mean to imply that it’s easy…..)

i do however want to highlight something in particular today that i am grateful for and that is diversity. because you see, spending days on end in the kitchen, all in honor of one meal, is not my idea of fun. sure, i can cook when i need to and i do enjoy baking now and again, but i have accepted that this is not my creative passion....

happily, i have other passions, but i am particularly grateful today to those who actually enjoy putting a feast together and sharing it with others. i mean, it’s especially enjoyable to visit someone’s home for a meal when you know that they get joy out of preparing it. what a gift - definitely a win-win!

and why stop there? i’m always soooo grateful whenever i visit a doctor’s office to know that there are those who, unlike me, do not become weak and light-headed at the slightest sight of blood. and that they actually enjoy (or don’t mind!) tending to my medical needs. another gift.

by the same token, when i was teaching special needs students, i regularly had people say to me, “i don’t know how you do it. it takes a special person….. etc. etc.” and i would always mentally poo-poo that idea, but the fact is, they were probably right – if by “special person” you mean “one that happens to have my unique gifts and talents”. it just happened to be something i enjoyed doing and was good at. but it's not for everyone.

so, think today about all the people in your life and what they contribute to it. and wouldn’t life be boring if we were all the same?? there is such a wealth of diversity out there and i am definitely GRATEFUL!!

(all photos taken last thanksgiving....

because i have a wonderful friend who likes to cook,

i can go out and take pictures....

i'm so grateful for you, mary!!)