ENJOYING THE SILENCE!!

"Reflecting on November"

 "Listen, and attend with the ear of your heart."

~ Saint Benedict, Christian saint

"Two Guys"
SLO-Express ~ 11.10.10

"Quotable" 
Gap ~ 11.10.10

Enjoying the silence... the end of a busy month, filled with loads of work (I'm not talking about home repairs or projects), visits with family, tasty food, lots of movies (Red, Hereafter, Tamara Drewe, Love & Other Drugs, Fair Game, Morning Glory & Secretariat!! JPE saw Harry Potter ~ not my thing!!) & celebrating our 6th Anniversary... 

Enjoying the silence... listening to birds, wind whooshing through the leaves, the quiet of the early morning, and the whistle of the tea kettle telling me I need to start another day!
 

Enjoying the silence... before the rush of excitement December brings! Will focus on LISTENING with with my heart & not get caught up in the deafening buzz of shopping!

Enjoying the silence of my own thoughts!!!

WEEKWORD = PYROPHORIC....

taken at 7:29am ~ 11/29/10

"Frost is the greatest artist in our clime - 

He paints in nature and describes in rime."

~ Thomas Hood, English poet & humorist

Cath C @ Musings in Mayhem selected the WEEKWORD ~ click on her bloglink to get a definition of the word....

"P-Y-R-O-P-H-O-R-I-C" 

makes me think of... fireworks? sparkly objects? crystals? spicy foods?

Looking out my car window this morning!!!

Stretch your imagination... just share your ideas with the WEEKWORD bloggers. 
Float over to CATH C's blog & let her know you will be posting your P-Y-R-O-P-H-O-R-I-C idea(s)!

LACUNA....

WAITING... WATCHING... TAKING A BREAK!!

The WEEKWORD was "L-A-C-U-N-A" and was selected by nature lover & biologist, Carmen at TAILS OF A BIOMOUSE.

I'm late to the WEEKWORD party, but tiptoe over to CARMEN'S to peek at other participating bloggers!

My mom, crossword "extraordinaire" offered some ideas for this post... but basically having SIX wonderful days with the girls - SLE & ACE plus my mom visiting for Thanksgiving - I experienced a "L-A-C-U-N-A" of sorts??!!

I hadn't anticipated taking a break from my camera or blogging, but it was difficult to squeeze more activity into our "action-packed days" ~ stuffed (appropriate word considering the abundance of foodstuffs consumed over the past week) with cooking + eating; discussions about books, movies, politics; trips to the beach; taking the dogs (Lola & Sea-bass) for walk(s); doing loads of laundry; visiting + more visiting - whew!!! 

After reading the definition for "L-A-C-U-N-A" - I would say I took a HIATUS from blogging without realizing it... 

lacuna (plural lacunae or lacunas), noun

1. A small opening; a small pit or depression; a small blank space; a gap or vacancy; a hiatus.
2. An absent part, especially in a book or other piece of writing, often referring to an ancient manuscript or similar. 

   

   LADYBUGS, LADYBUGS - ALL GONE HOME! 
   WHAT A FABULOUS TIME WE HAD!
   WHEN CAN WE DO IT AGAIN??

SOULFUL ROCKS...

Sycamore Mineral Springs ~ Avila Beach ~ 11/18/10

R-O-C-K-S ... the WEEKWORD was selected by MARIA @ SIMPLY COOL STUFF.

Check her website for other R-O-C-K-E-R-S...

...and skip your R-O-C-K over to CARMEN'S @ TAILS OF A BIOMOUSE to find out the next WEEKWORD!


Take a right at the persimmon tree

River R-O-C-K-S.... 

smooth, round, lumpy, shiny, flat, speckled, flecked, spotted, striped, veins ~ of tan, beige, gray, black, & metallic silver. 



Sycamore Mineral Springs

Hundreds of R-O-C-K-S... outline the Sycamore Mineral Springs Labyrinth. Labyrinths have been known to the human race for over four thousand years... Labyrinths can be outlined with R-O-C-K-S, mounds of dirt & grass, & stone laid in concrete or marble. Portable labyrinths have been created on wool tapestries or canvas.


a winding path...

Walking the circular path leading to the center quiets & cleanses the mind... the center (often called the rosette) is the point of reflection... the unwinding path provides strength on the walk back out.

Leaving the Labyrinth, follow the red-orange "monkey paws" along the stone walkway to....

...the stone cairn. The top of the cairn is decorated with "treasures" left by previous visitors. Research states that cairns are sacred spots... Cairns also serve as markers, landmarks & burial sites, and are generally a conical shape.


cone-shaped Cairn



flowers dotted with dew from the ocean fog

Luscious puple flowers mark the path back to the parking lot.... Sycamore Mineral Springs Meditation Garden is MY place for reflection ~ it R-O-C-K-S!

ORANGE, FLESHY GLOBES...

WILD PERSIMMONS
Sycamore Hot Spring, Avila Beach

A walk to QUIET my mind.... 
And REFRESH my senses....

:: SMELL ::

the damp, musty leaves rotting on the ground

:: TASTE ::

a peppermint, found deep in my purse 

:: HEAR ::

crowing of the birds, warning others of my presence 

:: SEE ::

the brillant, firm, orange flesh of the wild persimmons 

:: FEEL ::
the moist dampness of the fog on my face

READY TO FACE THE DAY!

CLIMATE CHANGE...

 

"It's terribly amusing how many different 

climates of feeling one can go through in a day."

~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh, American woman aviator

Physically tired... Emotionally drained... Unable to gather accurate information to complete a report & re-submit it before the deadline...

Happy to be home... Lounging in pj's... Cozy bed is calling me!!!

Good Night!! 

LIST-IT TUESDAY...

List-It Tuesday - completed 11/16/10

What's YOUR Name Day??

LOOK
HERE

Have you checked out "doodler-artist-extrordinaire" AIMEE @ ARTSYVILLE ?? On Tuesdays - Aimee posts a LIST (books, places she's been, art supplies etc)... it keeps her connected to her blog friends... and the creative juices flowing.

My other attempt at List-It Tuesday can be found HERE. 

The idea for my list came from my favorite Swedish blogger, BENITA @ CHEZ LARSSON. 

For List-It Tuesday, I listed the Name Days for my immediate family members... In some countries a person celebrates a Name Day + a Birthday... 

Celebrating BIRTHDAYS is difficult for me (that "getting old" business is for the birds), so perhaps I'll change & begin a Name Day Celebration - instead of December, I would be celebrating July 24th (if I was in France) or the Germans would celebrate my Name Day on July 25th. Since I have Scotch, Irish, & English ancestry - I think I'll stick with JULY 25th...

Anyone can participate in List-It Tuesday - drop AIMEE a note & check out the blogs participating. If you want some simple, clean, decorating ideas, CHEZ LARSSON is my go-to-source. Today's post has some adorable "Holiday Shrooms"...

What's your Name Day?

WEEKWORD = ROCK...

"LAVENDER LOVELY LIVING @ LEEDS"
(Rock Wall at Leeds Castle in LONDON)

MARIA @ Simply Cool Stuff

 has selected

"R-O-C-K"

as this week's  
WeekWord

You'll love reading her very sentimental reason for selecting this word...

Maria ~ You "R-O-C-K"...

Leave Maria a message at 

SIMPLY COOL STUFF 

if you plan to participate in

WeekWord...

UMMM! SPLURGE...

Stopped by....

for a TOFFEE MOCHA splurge!!!
Tall w/non-fat milk = 230 calories

Loved the holiday cup designs...

What's YOUR splurge??

PART 2 ~ ART IN UNEXPECTED PLACES!!

SLO COMMISSIONED 13 ARTISTS 
to DECORATE 16 UTILITY BOXES!

 If you missed 

Part 1 ~ Art in Unexpected Places

click HERE

 UTILITY BOX ART
Higuera @ the Apple Store

The desire to make beautiful, meaningful 

moments and things is an undeniable part 

of who we are.

~ Sandra Magsamen, author of living artfully

IT'S A DANCE PARTY!! 

Higuera @ the Apple Store

COME BLOW YOUR HORN! 

Higuera @ the Apple Store

FLUTTERING DOWN MONTEREY!  
Monterey & Osos St

ART in SLO 
is NOT limited to Utility Boxes!

STORE FRONT...
Monterey St ~ former surf shop

ON BUILDING WALLS...

 Chorro Street

"STANDING ON THE CORNER... 

WATCHING ALL THE GIRLS GO BY!"

(French to "deceive the eye")
Trompe-l'œil

is an art technique involving extremely 
realistic imagery in order to create 
an optical illusion that makes the 
depicted objects appear three-dimensional.

What sort of public ART does your hometown have?

WEEKWORD = NOVEMBER

THIS WEEK'S HOST FOR 
WEEKWORD WAS

CAROLA

STOP 
by  

carola bARTz blog

for some  
N-O-V-E-M-B-E-R 
inspiration!

my week included...

TUESDAY SUNSET...

WASHING WINDOWS...

& WINDOW SHOPPING...

TAKING TIME TO MEDITATE...

....AND ENJOY THE FLOWERS!

A MASSAGE TO CELEBRATE...

OUR 6TH ANNIVERSARY....

WATCHING THE SUN SET AT AVILA BEACH!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY 
JPE!!!!

!!! Loved !!!

SYCAMORE HOT SPRINGS

garden walk,

hot tub & massage,

walking the labyrinth

AVILA BEACH

tea @ Joe Momma's,

watching the sunset

PISMO BEACH

dinner at Rosa's!!

ART IN UNEXPECTED PLACES...

 Marsh & Morro ~ SLO ~ 11/10/10

Took my camera downtown San Luis Obispo this afternoon to capture some Box Art as part of the DOWNTOWN SLO BEAUTIFICATION Project.

Marsh & Chorro ~ Abstract Shells ~ 11/10/10

Thirteen artists were commissioned to paint 16 utility boxes in the downtown area. Carrying the newspaper article as a guide to the utility box locations, I was able to find four of the boxes before the sun started dipping behind buildings.

Monterey & Chorro ~ Mission Plaza ~ 11/10/10

The first box I ran across was next to the SLO Mission. What a pleasant surprise to find such vibrant color in the planter - an "unexpected place"...

Monterey & Chorro ~ Mission Plaza

The artists painted all sides of the utility box ~ here are two sides of the Mission Plaza fish...

Monterey & Chorro ~ Mission Plaza

Especially appreciated the reminder to "keep our streams clean"....
 

I'm thrilled the SLO Downtown Association & city continued their enthusiasm for beautifying the downtown area! For the people who gave this project a "thumbs-down" - I say, MOVE SOMEPLACE ELSE! (The naysayers felt the money should not have been spent on ART during these difficult economic times; and that the artists should have donated their time & resources to complete the work for FREE)

Planning another photo taking visit & will share more pics in a future post!

PAUSING....

Big Bear Lake ~ 8/21/10

"Learn to pause... or nothing 

worthwhile will catch up to you."

~ Doug King, photographer

I paused long enough to look - - - really LOOK at the calendar & realized I had not sent Birthday cards to: Tom, Terri or Lars.... 

Sending B-DAY WISHES to all three of you! 

PIECES OF COLOR...

Long Beach Quilt Show ~ July 2008

CAROLA selected N-O-V-E-M-B-E-R as this week's word... 

N-O-V-E-M-B-E-R means...

::  blustery days, swirling orange-red leaves
::  the smell of cloves, allspice & cinnamon
::  wearing a coat in the AM & PM
::  needing socks to keep my feet warm & toasty
::  celebrating my anniversary w/JPE
::  apples, apples & more apples (apple-pie, cake, sauce, bread, muffins)
::  cleaning out the garden beds
::  crock pot soups & crusty bread 

What's on my N-O-V-E-M-B-E-R TO-DO LIST? 

::  gathering recipes & making a shopping list of ingredients
::  washing blankets & pillow shams (company is coming!) 
::  cleaning the windows & screens
::  making apple bread & a pie (& freezing them for later!)
::  hosting BBabes "Decoration Swap" 11/16/10


I've shared some ideas I'm mulling about - how about posting your "creative interpretation"???


WeekWord host = CAROLA
WeekWord = N-O-V-E-M-B-E-R

Leave a comment at CAROLA'S BLOG so she can add your blog to this WeekWord's participant list... Check out her picture of GORGEOUS FALL LEAVES!!!

ummmm.... thinking about recipes & food - perhaps I'll be posting a recipe?? 

FALL (ING) BACK!!!

Spec-ta-cular Saturday!! 11/6/10

JPE set our clocks back yesterday morning ~ to prepare us for gaining an hour of time. Where did that HOUR go? I dunno...

I did spend some time this morning skimming "The Wisdom of Bees - What the Hive Can Teach Business About Leadership, Efficiency, and Growth" by Michael O'Malley, a management consultant & professor. O'Malley's beekeeping became more than a hobby, but also the foundation for this book. His observations of "the industrious bee" can be applied to running a business. 

KEW GARDEN ~ London ~ 8/4/10

In addition to making honey, bees also work together to achieve a common goal and work in a "highly coordinated, efficient and remarkably productive organization." Twenty-five lessons were sprinkled with interesting facts about bees and their hives. Would make a GREAT present for someone this holiday season! (BTW ~ I wasn't paid to review this book ~ but I'm sort of a "geek" when it comes to self-help books)

WEEKWORD had an ABUNDANCE of participants! On Monday, put on your "bee wings" and "buzz" over to CAROLA'S "hive" (blog) to discover this week's word & let her know if you'll be participating.

A-B-U-N-D-A-N-C-E!!!

 "Not what we have, but what we enjoy,

constitutes our ABUNDANCE."

~ John Petit-Senn, Swiss-French poet

"ABUNDANCE is, in large part, an attitude."

 ~ Sue Patton Thoele, author

I selected A-B-U-N-D-A-N-C-E as the WeekWord... 

I didn't have a plan for what I would post?? Here it is the evening before revealing this week's participants & I'm struggling with this word....

When I think of those word association games, I instantly think of $$$ MONEY $$$ when I hear the word ABUNDANCE.

That's really odd, because I don't like to SHOP... sitting at the computer in my hotel room (@ work conference in Sacramento) this is what I came up with...

I have an ABUNDANCE of:

• family & friends ~ no money involved - but in order to have a "plentiful" number I need to continue regular snail-mail, email, or phone communication; better yet, a personal visit!

• work ~ umm... money does come into play here! I do receive a paycheck - but if my job were to be cut / eliminated, there are several projects I would continue to support on a volunteer basis

• interests ~ yes! I do spend money on craft supplies - but, I've tried to consider the environment & storage of new supplies before I actually make a purchase

• life experiences ~ yes! traveling is worth every penny! I would eat peanut butter & jelly sandwiches for a month, if it meant I could take a trip!

• memories ~ I've journaled since the 70's - reading my entries, cards from JPE & the girls.... I'm overflowing with an ABUNDANCE of memories - scary, thrilling, touching, sad, overwhelming happiness...

I've read a couple of the early posts for this week's word & know you'll appreciate the variety of creative interpretations...

There's an ABUNDANCE of participants this week! THANK YOU to the new bloggers who have joined us this week. There are some fabulously talented bloggers in cyber-land! Don't forget to leave them a message when you visit their blog... I'll tap next week's host on Saturday, when I've returned home from my conference...
 

SALLY @ Sow and Sew

CATH C @ Musings in Mayhem 

EMMA @ The Gift Shed

CARMEN @ Tails of a Biomouse

ALLIE in Wonderland

JOYE @ Joyefulart

FRUENSWERK

HEATHER @ Love & Life at Leadora

 MANDY @ IN MANDYLAND

KATY @ Creating Misericordia

 ADRIENNE @ La Vie Quotidienne

Just a Humble Bee

PENNY @ Antediluvian Crafts 

MARIA @ Simply Cool Stuff 

My apologies - I missed TWO of this week's participants... Please join me in stopping by....

CAROLA @ carola bARTz

SALLY @ Dairio

Saturday morning... picture me sipping a cup of tea, warm & cozy in my flannels & socks... jumping from blog to blog...... AHHH! contented!!!

"Riches are not from an ABUNDANCE of

worldly goods, but from a contented heart."

~ Mohammed, diplomat, orator, philosopher