Ten Thought Tuesday

1. Picking through the past 2 years of my life here, has been tougher than I ever envisioned, no matter where or what I've been through its been hard doing things for the last time, memories are triggered by the smallest of things. It just hasn't been an easy letting go..

2. Neville and a friend are kindly doing the removals tomorrow morning early...I hope they have a good hearty breakfast beforehand...

3. I'm having lunch with as many of the girls from work who can make it, we planned on meeting on the beach in a little cafe that does the most superb seafood..looks like it will be a much cooler tomorrow than today though. I may need to revisit my wardrobe choice...

4. Today was punctuated by neighbours visits, saying goodbyes, giving me hugs and generally standing around chatting, offering me a cheap excuse to rest for a while...it was nice...

5. I had takeouts for two meals today, all my pots and pans are packed and the fridge is near empty...lol..at least no dishes to do..

6. I get a free coffee tomorrow from my favourite little coffee cabin..my card has ten punches on it..yayy

7. I will miss the ocean and the early morning mist, and the bells which chime on the hour on the little village green...

8. I will miss the sounds, smells and colour at the weekly farmers market...

9. I will miss the walks Senga and I enjoyed everyday so very much, the farm views, the village folk and their cries of 'oh look there's a scottie', ice cream at the corner shops on a hot summers day, and the crisp clear views of the snow capped mountains in winter...

10. I confess to weeping a fair bit today...

Let the River Run

Reflecting

reflecting

looking through

looking back

remembering all other times

my shadow fell on glass

and with whom

To the end of the world...

My sister Maggie and her beloved Nev are all ship shape and ready for their big trip. They leave in two weeks...we plan to party on the dock at the Springbok Bar down at Long Beach next saturday, (its a good old South African pub)..and then as the sun sets, wave them off as they set sail on their world cruise. First stop Mexico and the fishing grounds of the Sea of Cortez....
I love this song, it reminds me of them....

Gary's Triple Play ~ Circle of Life

From the day we arrive on the planet

And blinking, step into the sun

There's more to see than can ever be seen

More to do than can ever be done

Painted Horse

I received this email from my 9yr old grand daughter yesterday:

Dear Nani

I can't go on to the computer and play during the week because I have too much schoolwork. Can you look after my horse for me?

Olivia

thankyouloveyou

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

How can you resist a face like this....

So I have dutifully fed and watered this virtual horse, stroked it, observed how much poop its passed and put it to bed..in a stall!!

Here is the address

www.howrse.com

Being a Dandelion

okay...
so Im intimidated. and it's more than a bit overwhelming, but really,
it's just another place more opportunity,
more people,
more experiences to make me grow, i mean..just think
if I used all of that intimidation,
all of that fear would there be a limit to all that one could do?

I really don't think so.
because,

really,
life
is just a field
of dandelions
and we're
meant to disperse.....

A Visit from Home

The one thing I miss about being with the people I've grown up with, those who have known me forever, family or good friends, co-workers..whatever, is that you don't have to explain who you are or where you've been, no need to re-tell life experiences or describe an event.. because they already know it all and the joy is they love you anyway.

We had such a wonderful surprise when my cousin and her husband came to the US a couple of weeks ago...he presented a paper in Vegas on the economic rewards of higher education (hope I'm right on the title Alex??) They spent just one day and night with us, but we packed a whole lot of living in those few hours, showed pictures of children not seen by others for far too long, shared gardens now grown, and recalled incidents and memories only family would know.

And then the best thing was that they would take a small special package from me, all the way back with them and give it to my daughter..from my hands to theirs..to hers.

It felt good!

Silent Sunday

silent but for the words..

'it was the neighbours house ..'

Portraits of Platforms

Like ships out at sea, these oil rigs or platforms, lie out at sea off the coast of Santa Barbara. As I drive to and from work at various times of day (and night) I prefer to half close my eyes and think of them as far more exciting pieces of flotsam, such as pirate ships lurking in the darkness, or, when the lights are on...big liners with super rich passengers drinking champagne as they sit on deck with cashmere sweaters the wind blowing wisps of hair across their made up faces... and if I try really hard I can almost smell the cigars which burn and glow in the twilight...

There are currently 20 platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel producing oil and gas, 15 in federal waters and one in state waters off shore of Santa Barbara County and another four offshore of Ventura County.

For more pictures see here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/docsearls/sets/72057594090570230/

Unchain my Heart ~ Joe Cocker

One of my all time favourites....

Skabenga

So after all the polls and input..lol.. this is the new kitty's name: Skabenga...which means devil cat in Zulu....or 'holy terror, be afraid be very afraid, or monster'..in English..

chuckles, personally I think he is wayyy to cute to be bad!

Triple Play ~ Cottonfields

innocent white balls of fluff

peek through coats of brown

and spill out eagerly into our world

A Well Mannered Storm

The weather has been broody all day here in Southern Cali.

We're a little obsessed with rain here and so we should be, water is a precious commodity in these parts. So when the clouds gather close and dark, squeezing out the light..we sit and hope for even a sprinkle of rain.

Luckily for us the clouds delivered and it has rained on and off all day washing all the dust off houses, removing the leaves that waited passively to be released from the bondage of high branches and sending rainwater scuttling down in little streams along the road side.

Afterwards the mists lifted and water gathered in little puddles on all surfaces seemingly reluctant to leave...

..of course I forgot to bring in my cushion..

Senga travels well...

what more can I say....

Memories of Solvang

So many memories its a struggle to know where to begin! So here are some random shots of Solvang, work, the places visited and some of the people who shared this time of my life with me.

Im in transition.. living between two homes for the next couple of weeks, but this too shall pass....

Autumn Storm ~ Poetry Posse

we hunker down and wait

for the flashes of lightning to begin,

you count aloud, slowly, as the sky is electrified

until the crash

in-spite of thunders inevitability, I startle violently

and in the darkness you slide your chubby hand

into mine and squeeze your warmth right into

the very heart of me

I hold tightly to that feeling of comfort

and believe we will be friends forever

but

I am only seven

Picture Perfect ~ Genuine

Its

PICTURE PERFECT

time again

and

this week Cherie is the host

oOo

Genuinely Fresh

Oh pointless veg, yet pointy, pointy
Oh staple organic box appointee
What earthly power has so decreed
thy presence every week? Indeed
one plastic bag of dirty spurs
of sunset hue so connoisseurs
of solid root veg happy be.
They might know what to cook: not me

~ anon

Ten Thought Tuesday

* I get irritated by people who write blogs/emails like they do a text message.. 'u 2 r w/out culture'

* I have 7 shifts left in Santa Barbara *sniff*

* The removals van arrives in 9 days and..I still have a ton of packing to do

* Had a lovely lunch and afternoon walk with Rosi yesterday, visited our old haunts and caught up with each others news, it was so good!

* The sunsets are more spectacular by the day

* Im going to miss the beach sooo much

* Must bring Senga back for a day or two so that we can walk all our usual walks one last time

* My mom sister and I had a fun weekend cleaning and restocking the boat

* Im feeling better much better

* but...I have not run for a week!!