Tag Archives: gratitude

Calming Trips to the Beach

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cropped-img_0590.jpgThis year I was lucky to go on two beach vacations. I’m a Pacific Ocean Girl by birth and in my heart, but the Sea of Cortez and the Atlantic Ocean were both magical to visit. All the oceans are one, so me, loving the Pacific Ocean, I love all the Oceans. Is the sea between Baja and Mexico proper part of that? Oh yeah, everything is a part of everything (!).

Being near natural bodies of water is so calming and soothing to me. I feel like the tide going in and out, the sound of the waves crashing, the wind, all of it is so healing. Imagine the sound of the waves right now…don’t you feel calmer? We all rush around and feel so stressed in our culture.  The wild water of nature reminds us that that is all illusion. There’s nowhere to go, nothing to do. Maybe look at some shells,  go for a swim, read a book, put your feet in the water, watch the sun set.  OR just do nothing.

These were taken in April 2014, Near San Felipe, Mexico on the Sea of Cortez. The tide goes out miles every morning. The first shot is in the early morning. The second two, later in the day, as the water crept up the beach. It’s the same place in all three photos, the water magically pulled in by the moon.

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In September we went to a wedding in Cape May, New Jersey. Before I met FH I had never been to New Jersey and had no idea how beautiful it is. FH has lots of relatives in Cape May, and it’s a wonderful place to visit. This was taken with my iphone on my birthday in September 2014.

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After Cape May, we did a little road trip to see friends in Virginia. Along the way we visited Chincoteague Island, Virginia, home of the famous wild ponies. Another really magical place on the Atlantic.

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Mini Masterpieces Upcycled Sweater Christmas Ornaments

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My husband and I participate in a local art club, Art Jam, at the Rhythmix Cultural Works. Every month or two The K Gallery (where incidentally we held our very small wedding two and a half years ago) has  an new exhibit.  This coming month the exhibit is called “Mini Masterpieces.”  It’s an opportunity for Art Jam folks to display their small works of art for people to shop for Christmas and holiday presents.  FH put in various small paintings, and I put in my upcycled sweater ornaments.

IMG_3022 2It’s nerve-wracking for me to try to sell my stuff, I always get a little weird about it.  I am a private person and am pushing myself to display my arts and crafts, and to blog here about my life and loves.  It’s a practice for me to “be in the world,” as I spent much of my life daydreaming and worrying.  Being in my body and here, now, doing whatever it is I’m doing takes breathing and remembering to rest in each moment.  On the plus side, I have to say, it’s also fun and exciting to be out in this world participating and connecting.

The opening of the show is Friday November 14th.  The K Gallery is always open the evening of the 2nd Friday of the month, as are many other galleries in Alameda and Jingletown (the part of Oakland very close to Alameda).  If you are local, stop on by!

Home: a meditation

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For my photography 101 Class I’ve been asked about home.

For me, home is remembering to be centered in myself and breathe.  I’m always home if I remember to be here, inside, aware of my breathing, just being.  Experiencing my senses and being aware.

Walking the dog is a little like meditation.  Except you stop and pick up poop in a little bag. Here are a couple of  photo collages from yesterday morning’s dog walk.
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It was a beautiful, crisp fall day, and I wanted to record the feeling of awareness and really looking at my surroundings–my everyday surroundings on my street, and around my block.

Too bad for little Pupper though, since he didn’t get to decide when to walk and when to stop, which he likes.  He thinks he’s in charge.  But really, he’s not in charge; I’m not in charge.  We just are there together, walking.  Me looking, and him sniffing.

Crisp fall air. Breathe.  See. Smell.  This is home.  This is my street, my block, my neighborhood.