devotion.

  We've been lucky to have been getting sunny days. Most mornings start off gloomy but by early afternoon the sun is out. It's so much easier for me to get out and be motivated with a little sunshine. I've started making a real effort to be consistent in my yoga practice and it makes me so happy and keeps my head and breath calm.

   These hens are so smart. Maybe "smart" isn't the right word but (wow!) they sure are easily trained. I can get them to anything if I reinforce it with a snack. I don't know how much they understand of what I'm saying, maybe they understand the tone of my voice.  They do know their names. I love them. They behave better than our cats.

   This guy is a professional sleeper. all day long. Nothing more cozy than a nap in the sun...

  I'm looking forward to more sunny days. We have a bunch of wedding related events coming up in the next few days. One of my dearest friends is in town (for our mutual friends wedding on Saturday) and I got to spend some time with her today and it's so wonderful to have friends who have known you since you were a kid and can remind you of things you have forgotten about life, yourself and who you used to be or used to dream of becoming... Old friends are so magical! xo m

in the moment...

  Adjusting to life at home was a little hard after 5 solid days of intense friend (do whatever I want all day and night long with no one to take care of) time. The first couple of days of any vacation I spend mentally comparing the new city to Seattle and kind of missing Seattle and then a shift happens and I start to feel the energy of the new city and it feels good and fun and new.  Chicago was a whole new place for me. I've never been to the Midwest and was at first surprised by the flat, sort of barren landscape. In some ways it reminded me of LA and NY. Very urban and lacking in greenery. But beautiful in a burnt out industrial way. People were friendly and real. I had such a great trip and it was wonderful to get to spend time with my friends thrifting and eating and staying up way too late.

  Back in my own reality now. Trying to concentrate on simplifying and doing one thing at a time. Planting seeds, getting the garden going, cleaning up the yard, getting rid of the "things" that are cluttering up a house that is really too small for 4 people and 2 cats. Getting things in order and being in the moment.  Also, stashing away spare change in the vacation fund, summers coming and these kids (and mama and papa) need a little desert trip! xo m

c h i c a g o r u l e s

  Outside recovering from the Friday night Mahjongg dance a thon... I still have sore feet.

Chicago rules, a lot! xo m