in 7 days...

We will be heading to the Galapagos Islands! I've seen the movie, looked at pictures online, and read a lot of blogs but I still can't get my head around what this adventure is going to look/feel like!
I hope to see this...
and this...
and this...
(although a bit freaked out about swimming with these awesome creatures!)
and I'm sure a lot of other weird and wonderful things. Time has been flying by more than ever! It's mid-January every body! That's wonderful news, isn't it? Spring will be here before we know it and the Olympics will be a distant memory (not that I'm wishing time to go quickly).
On the 17th (in 2 days!) I will be starting an online creative journey through this website...http://goddessschool.ning.com/ which I hope will inspire me to explore my creative side and challenge me to jump in to some of those unknown waters (with sea lions, maybe??). 2010...here we come! It's going to be a great year filled with some twists and turns and I'm ready for the adventure!

A Belated Christmas Report...

We had a very busy holiday season this year filled with family and friends, great meals and some entertaining game-playing. My G. chose a theme for my gifts and gave me the 'Julie and Julia' movie, the Julia Child cookbook and a beautiful turquoise le creuset casserole dish like the one they use in the movie. I LOVE it and can't wait to try out some new recipes in my new pot!!! For him, I printed up some photos that I took on a walk last year in Robert's Creek and framed them. They are the photos of the trees from my last blog. There were many other gifts exchanged and memories shared and we were once again truly blessed with love and abundance in our house and lives!
I hope you're all having a fantastic weekend!

2010 - 20-zen!

thanks to cynthia for sharing this and several other ideas with me!

i'm determined that 2010 will also be my 20-zen and am prepared to do the work that it requires to bring back balance, creativity and fun to my life.
the past few months have been a struggle. i lost focus, held a LOT of fear and felt like all i wanted to do was hide under the covers. i do believe that sometimes you need to curl up under the covers and take care but for me, it's time to step forward and look at what amazing events and opportunities my future holds.
first order of fun - my new year's resolution/commitment - sing as much as possible!
i had the privilege of singing in the new year with the local hospice group on the most beautiful, wind-swept, stormy beach - honoring the memory of friends/family who have passed on with words and song. our threshold choir met to support this group with the songs we have learned and it was a beautiful experience. it was followed up in the evening by our regular, bi-monthly choir meeting last night. pure magic - so moving and healing and powerful! the force and harmony created in that room has to have an impact on the world.
i had also heard about another group that meets here on the coast regularly in a singing circle while raising funds for an african village. i met the organizer of that group last night and she invited me to attend their next gathering. my heart has been yearning for more music and also for a place to give back. i can't wait to learn more about this project and to be a part of it!
so...2010/20zen will be a year filled with music, giving back, accessing my creativity and always taking the next step forward! and that is very exciting!!!
i bid a fond farewell to 2009 and am thankful for the gifts it brought me including travel, beautiful friends, supportive family, a wonderful new home and community, flowers in my garden, beach walks/swims/rock-gathering expeditions, music, a business that supports me and reflects my goals of celebrating all women and, of course, as always, the love of my life, my george (now in our 20th year together)!
i wish you all a happy new year!

Our First Official Christmas on the Coast...

Our tree...(found these vintage decorations in our crawlspace)

Our front porch (this beautiful 'glider' sled and set of skis were also left here!)

stormy seas...

taken from geo's cell phone - friday the 13th.
not an unlucky day by any stretch!

yesterday at the beach...

the beach heals my soul! so blessed to live so close!

How Was Your Weekend?

This weekend George and I tuckled in.
We had about 50 trick or treaters (after being warned of 100's) so have a LOT of candy left over.

Sunday turned out to be beautiful and warm so we headed off to Robert's Creek beach. Such a great day!

Check out my flickr page for some more pix.
Hope you had a lovely weekend!

Can you get any more Coastal?

On the Threshold...

2 weeks ago Friday, I was invited to attend a meeting of a newly formed choir here on the coast. It's called the Threshold Choir. I had heard a bit about it from a friend who had been and googled it to learn its' history, etc. but...could not have imagined the power, healing and magic of these voices joined in song all focused on one purpose. The songs chosen are picked/written for their nurturing words/melodies to provide comfort and inspiration for someone who is "struggling: some with living, some with dying." As you can see if you visit the website, one of the purposes of the group choir is to prepare for a time when 2 to 3 people might be asked to sing for someone in need. I don't know when I would be ready to make that step - but just being in that room for 1 night (with the opportunity to sit in the middle of the room and be sung to), changed my life and made me vibrate with energy like I've never felt before. These choirs are popping up all over and one is being formed in Vancouver as we speak. Have a listen. I can't wait to go again tomorrow night! What song fills your heart?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR0v_vlBVCg

A day at the beach...

so needed and appreciated!