Thoughts About a Change

Well I was thinking about changing things up here on the old blog site so I tried a new template and....hated it! There followed a few moments of sheer panic trying to get back to this very basic design and I am so relieved to have recovered it. Phew, certain changes can be way too frightening. I think this 'old' version is just fine. It is simple and not so busy-bee with a dozen other things going on in the margins and on the top, etc. I just want to say a few words, post a few pictures and this format serves my purpose. This is no novel, it's not even a short story. It is just a place to essentially talk to myself and to garner a bit of feedback (which I dearly love) from some friends (whom I also dearly love) to bring me back to earth. I have decided to make some other minor changes though. One is my 'links' list which I think needs to be updated. There are some more blogs out there are near and dear to my heart and I want to share them. The other reason is that I have noticed that a lot of people start a blog and then let it fizzle....sure there are lots of good reasons for that... but it kind of saddens me a bit when someone just stops posting. I often wonder what is going on. It is kind of like being dropped by a friend with no explanation. Yes, 'e-friends' are friends too, just in a parallel universe, and really, we can never have too many friends, 'e' or otherwise, can we? So, for anyone out there I am posting some random photos for no good reason at all and saying "HELLO".

Big Mouth/Small Voice

I have a dilemma. I have been told, on occasion that I have a big mouth. I have also been told that my voice doesn't carry. Huh? Sometimes I give voice to my opinion in an attempt at being honest and in an attempt to bring about a change. A change I perceive as necessary but more importantly, as possible. I get on roll with something and can NOT, not say anything. I really try to be diplomatic. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, as that is not my style and is never, ever my intention. I am doomed to the endless adolescent pursuit of being 'liked' over and above the nobler pursuits of adulthood. But it is frustrating when you can't get someone to see the brilliance ( oui, mes amis, being funny here) of the argument or the clarity of the point. What is up with not being able to change the world? I know, I know... blah, blah, blah... one step at a time...be the change that you want to see....and all the rest of those inspirational homilies, but precisely when, should one just shut up? Sometimes, kindness itself, just doesn't seem to be enough and then... small voice comes out of big mouth from soft heart?

A Goat in the Bush

Sometimes a friend introduces you to someone so remarkable, that you realize (not that you actually forgot) that there are so many different ways 'to be' in the world. Here is someone who lives quite peacefully right smack dab in the thick of things. Visiting him and spending an afternoon on his property with his goats and his dog and the creek and the view just puts everything in place for me. He is so not preachy or braggy. He just seems so content and so sane. Even though his home is rather off the grid,' isolated ' is not a word that I would use to describe him. 'Full' would be much better. Thank you Lynn and Nick for a wonder-full afternoon. The pasta and the wine just added to overall pleasure of spending that time with you.

PERPLEXED & PANTING

Today I am trying to figure out how to protect myself from this feeling of suffocation. Let me try to explain. I am being suffocated by FOOD. Someone in my family (hint: it is not me) has a food hoarding addiction and is filling the basement with it. There are canned tomatoes, packages of pasta, cans of pumpkin, gigantic bags of flour, surplus baking supplies, bags of coffee, sacks of potatoes, a huge jar of marinated artichoke hearts and other stuff I am starting to forget about. In addition, I have my own small stash of homemade jams and garden tomatoes which is what the basement is for, in my mind. Every time 'this person' goes out, I am in fear of what he will bring home to store in the basement. Inevitably, he returns with some 'deal' that he couldn't pass up because it is something we use and will need again in the future...so into the basement it goes. Things are starting to get piled on top of other things. This is BAD. Of all the things that aggravate me, and trust me, there are many, this one thing is my worst nightmare. How do I get it to stop? or at least to slow down? I have tried pretty much all approaches except... the ultimatum. Now, here's the kicker...he wants to get a freezer! Where is the oxygen tank?

le petit mal

I am loosely using this term to describe an episode (a Proust moment, perhaps) that recently stopped me and took me on a little trip back in time. We all have these moments, don't we? Something sets it in motion...a word...a smell...a look...it could be anything really. Suddenly, we are 'back there' again in all its glory... happy or sad or any of a million other feelings. For me, and not to belabour the issue, I time-travelled back to Cowgirl. Right there, in the woods on the most beautiful of fall afternoons I suffered ' a little death ' of sorts. The details are not so important but here they are anyway. I met a guy and his old, black & white dog on the trail. The dog had a pink, elastic bandage on one of her front legs. That was it. That pink bandage was all it took. My boarding pass. I melted on the spot as she gently pushed into me (the way old dogs do) and let me stroke her head and ears. She had some stitches on her neck, along a ragged incision from her recent surgery, and her guy said she wasn't feeling "so good these days". The tone of his voice said it all. We continued on our walk and slowly came back to life.

La Luna

Here are some pictures of a sheer, unabashed, in-your-face, look at me, how could you not, beauty of a night, on the road... somewhere. I remember this night and how cold it was and how utterly clear everything was.. There are no doubts on a night like this. There are no gray areas or half-truths. There is no wondering or questioning or searching. It is all pretty much right there in front you, bright and shining. What more proof do you need that all is as it should be?

Being Here Now

It has become impossible to ignore the new season that is here. No more hopes for an 'indian summer', as much as we all love the sound of that, chances are slim that it is going to happen. I was walking on the trail last evening (the one that is closed due to some visiting grizzlies...yikes) and it was littered with the first leaves of fall. The true colours have not come in yet but with a few more chilly/cold nights we are just hours away from a good show. I seriously need to make time to do my annual closet changeabout, which I look forward to. For me, cold weather wear is a good look as you can see by my very, fashionable legging picture. Leggings are a point of contention amongst some of my cohorts but I buck their attitude and forge ahead clad in practical, comfortable and effortlessly stylish cold-weather gear. It also is good time to dive more into knitting. Our Nelson Knitting Co-op is so much fun. We have already donated to one charity's fundraiser event and will be donating to two more charities this November. It takes our knitting to another level when we can give our beautiful, handmade items to strangers and know they are appreciated and used. The 'Co-op' concept is really coming to fruition and I am so pleased. Okay, enough of this drivel (dribble?) and we'll talk later.

BEING THOUGHTFUL

Betwixted & Between

Before we launch into another season wholeheartedly, I am savoring these in-between days and nights. Waking up to a day that doesn't know what it wants to do...it can't decide what to wear...its a bit befuddled as to its exact purpose...it has temporarily lost sight of its goals...is unsettling. You know where it is ultimately destined to arrive, but the back and forth banter and playful scuffling of temperature, sun, rain, clouds and wind keeps us off kilter. Keeps me, anyway, feeling a bit twisted inside and out. Not in a totally bad way but just in an 'anything can happen' way. In my mostly ordered life, I like this major uncontrollable force. I am still preparing like crazy for the winter. I already made plum and strawberry jam. Just picked all the shallots and onions and have them hanging & drying. Beets and carrots are in cold storage. Pesto has been made and is in the freezer. Peas and rhubarb are frozen too. The tomatoes are picked, getting nice and ripe and will soon be ready for preserving in the form of my roasted tomato sauce which, if i do say so myself is quite yummy. Today is predicted to be almost hot after a chilly night so maybe a nice float on the lake would work. Of course the monster dog will go for a swim as she has not figured out that the dog days of summer are coming to an end. Winter will be quite a surprize for her.

Falling in Love all Over Again

Falling in love all over again. Me and my imp were at it all last week. A girl after my own heart and let me tell you...she caught it. The defining moment was when she discovered 'free-boxing'. We were driving and saw a box with a sign over it that said 'FREE' so I pulled the car over and told her to jump out and see what was inside. That was the beginning of her obsession. After that we were on a constant hunt for free stuff. How can you not love that?! She found some really good stuff too (two cool purses). She also found some funny stuff (that weird puppet). She also found some gifts for other people (nice make-up bag for me and earbuds for T.). Her excitement was hilarious. An added bonus to this whole affair is that we have all decided that we are related (it's distant and a bit stretched, but we are taking it) and that makes things even sweeter. The only down side was our time together was way too short. But this is not just a geographically-convenient love. This is L-O-V-E in all caps. xoxo to my favorite little funny girl.