Twu Luf.

This picture is exciting for the following reasons...

1. John and Lindsey are Married!

2. They are the first S.B. Homesteaders to grow up and marry each other!

3.This picture was snapped by Yours Truly, and it represents the first wedding in which I've played the part of photographer!

Three cheers for love, homeschooling and photography!!!

whims

Life would be sweeter if I had a beat-up hippyvan to park under a Swiss-family-Robinson Treehouse, with a baby pet bison that came when I called.

But I am learning to be content with what I have.

Must it...

...hurt my heart so much

When I see you see me

and turn on your heel

and avoid me like the plague?

What did I do wrong?

What happened?

Oh let's please be friends, again

so this frail heart wont feel like

a dooby.

Quest: Canada

I miss my french Flesh and Blood. Starting today,
I venture to send a letter a day (en francais) to one of my Canadian family members... for at least a week. Ce sera le début de quelque chose que j'espère finira dans du fait de se réunir, très bientôt.

Memories of the Future

"To laugh often and much; To win the respect of people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." 

Dear D,

We missed each other by a hair.  Don't get to deeply lost in the heart of paradise.  I am planning on spending some quality time with you as soon as I get up there.

It'll be ok.

"But aren't you afraid that we might grow old, and never live exciting lives full of adventure and romance?"
"No.  But even if we do... we'll always have books."

Thank you world, for books. - Our ever-present companions and trusty vehicles, taking us places we might never have gone otherwise in this life.

 

P.S. This quaint little house was lodged right between a Subway and a Repair Station we passed on our drive back from the hills. I like it.

Wisdom from Elders...

"And my father told me... he looked me square in the eye, and said: 'you don't ever have to be shy... because all you need to do is just smile.'"

Thanks, Miss Cynthia.
I'll remember that.

Blushing Bonfire Sky.

 As if unwrapping a present,

Each new day, I awake to life's gift
I unpeel blankets, wrapping me tenderly,
Undo the bows of my curtains, and
and Peek out my windows
to see it's newest installment. 

This particular day, at it's advancing end,
I was able to witness, one of it's greater endowments.
Lately, He's been teaching me... what it means...
to "See".

And He gives me only the best things for practice.

My tennis shoes found themselves traveling rapidly over pavement,
I ran under the archway of sky who's hues looked
like they had been dipped deeply into the heart of a Caribbean rose
I had to stop many times, out of breath - not because of exercise,
but because, the majesty of the light in the tree tops, or streaks in the sky,
or glow of the mountains... simply commanded I stop an admire them.
I turned a corner, and was at the base of a long, narrow lane.

I've never seen such a rainbow, so vividly framed in blushing, bonfire sky!
It burst forth, from the root of the road, extending to the cosmos,
Something otherwordly, urethral, stirring and magical.
Time stood still as I walked under it, through it, in it all,
tears filled my eyes, my jawline as low as my ankle socks.

The sounds from my ipod mysteriously switched
and whispered lovely secrets in my ears.
This time... I wanted to take all of the connecting strings from my present,
 draw their lines around me and crawl back into this magical gift box,
and close myself up in it forever and ever.

But, the crazy thing about gifts is that once opened, they can be shared,
I ripped a piece of wrapping paper from the sky, and tucked it in my bosom.
Here it is, reader.  I want to give it to you.
It's just a crinkle, but it speaks of beautiful promise,
staggering beauty and incredible love.

He made the whole world for us.
And He continues to give it to us.
Everyday.

On taking up new hobbies... :-)

We are needles,

threading across

pavement roads

in secluded lands
behind mountains...

we weave in and out on quad-wheeled boards.

Bumping along,

zig-zagging.

The sun is setting, and

her final rays

dance with us, as

they too,

thread through the thin tops of trees,

shimmering down,

casting resplendent light

upon the beautiful patchwork of

joyful contentment

we create
as we

speed

down

hill.

Ode to Friendship, Pt. VII: Laura Michelle Goto

After 5 years, almost everything in our lives have changed, except for our sweet amity. :-) I'm so glad.  Yesterday, I wasn't sure how things were going to go...  but praise be (!) We're still the same ole goofy friends!  It was like being transported into a slice of our childhood.  I remember one day after an afternoon "playdate" at your house consisting of building mud pies and climbing trees, my mom picked me up and on our drive home asked me how my day went.  I remember sighing and telling her "I just really, really like Laura... She's a really fun friend."  I had that same exact feeling as we were driving home after meeting her half way in Cambria yesterday...  Man.  Something special about that one.  I shall never fear again about loosing touch.  Even if one of us falls off the earth for 29 years...  If we ever chance to find each other again after that...  We'll be able to find our friendship nitch - I'm sure of it.

"The bird a nest,
the spider a web,
man, friendship."
- William Blake -

♫ clouds clung to mountains...

without strings

the land is too changed to ever change. ♫

Who Knew?

...That the perfect spot to watch the sun set, on a Hilltop, exploding with Flowers, beside a Lake and a Waterfall, complete with City, Mountain and Ocean views was located so close to me?! Why would I ever spend another evening behind curtained window-panes, under a dark roof, knowing this gem of creation was located less than a mile from my front door? 

What am I going to do?

In 2010?

It's the million $ question.

"...no resolutions, just change..." 

"To learn something new, take the path that you took yesterday." 

Ode to Friendship, Pt. VI: Katrin Cunningham

Here is a quote from Kahlil Gibran, I tribute to Kat. Thankyou for spending the day with me yesterday, doing nothing... and everything at the same time.

"[Your friend is] your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving. And he is your board and your fireside. For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace. When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor do you withhold the "ay." And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart; For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed. When you part from your friend, you grieve not; For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain. And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit. For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught. And let your best be for your friend. If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also. For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill? Seek him always with hours to live. For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness. And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed."