ExplOregon: Eagle Creek.

Today's ExplOregon adventure took me to Eagle Creek in the Gorge.

It was a slippery little hike for sure as most of the trails were coated

in a sheer layer of glassy ice. But the views of the wilds were incredible.

Punch Bowl Falls...breathtaking, especially at thirty degrees.

Point Lobos.

Yesterday's adventure was at Point Lobos.

What a gorgeous collection of cliffs, crashing waves, and sea life.

Gifts from the Sea.

Pacific Grove.

Just spent three days in Pacific Grove at my Mom's adorable beach cottage.

The ocean was refreshing, awe inspiring, and exhilarating.

The cottages in the town are lovely. Some in disrepair, some with immense

handiwork been given. Most of the cottages were built in the late 1800's.

They have so much character, charm and quirkiness. Just love it.

Little garden treasures.

Mom's cottage lit up at night. Warm, cozy, a family nest.

A Mary Oliver Morning.

A Thousand Mornings

All night my heart makes its way

however it can over the rough ground

of uncertainties, but only until night

meets and then is overwhelmed by

morning, the light deepening, the

wind easing and just waiting, as I 

too wait (and when have I ever been

disappointed?) for redbird to sing.

-Mary Oliver

Moss Landing.

Today's explorations led my Mom and I to Moss Landing.

Funky old beach town, just like we like it.

Ate artichokes and fish, browsed art and thrift stores,

finished the day with a walk along the shoreline in Pacific Grove.

Beautiful sunny California day.

These old buildings equal weathered wood love.

Hands.

On this Solstice morning, I am thinking about hands and holding.

I remember in my youth, my mama kissing the dimples on my knuckles,

and I remember the day when she realized I didn't have them anymore

and the sadness of that kind of growing up but also the importance.

I could pick all of my family and friends hands out in a line up, no problem.

I love looking at their hands, the strength and tenderness, the scars,

the dirty fingernails, the grace, the wrinkles, the wear, the life.

We hold things, we hold onto things.

We support each other, we caress each other.

We do good work with these hands.

So this morning, as the light returns, 

I would like to express some deep gratitude.

Thank you dear ones, for the holding.

Thank you for your good work in the world.

Thank you for being flawed and perfect all at once.

ExplOregon: Snow.

ExplOregon: Adventuring in Oregon and discovering new things.

Today's ExplOregon adventure was over highway 36.

Spiritual experience of snow and wild Oregon.

My love affair with this state continues.

Gnome Class Number Three, 2012.

Teaching is one of my most happy moments.

Sharing a skill with a group of folks, and helping them make

something they are proud of is one of the times I feel the best and most useful.

Thanks to all the great gals who took Gnome Class Number Three.

It was a night of hilarity.

And what wondrous gnomes you made!

Gifting with Intention.

Today I'm packaging up some local handmade goodies for my best gals.

So much of the holidays worries me, the rushing, the excessive buying,

the plastic, the build up that seems to send us over cliffs of disappointment.

But there is something in preparing a small gift for someone you love with intention.

Taking a moment to share some of your gratitude that these people exist,

are in your life, and that you truly love and admire them, I believe is what

this holiday season is all about. There is so much thankfulness that I would 

like to share, especially with girlfriends...who see you through and see the real you.

Walk In Thought.

I went on a lovely NW blue sky winter walk this morning in Forest Park.

The world was wonder filled with life, death and regrowth.

Here is an inspiring quote that I carried with me on my walk.

“You don’t know anyone at the party, so you don’t want to go. You don’t like cottage cheese, 

so you haven’t eaten it in years. This is your choice, of course, but don’t kid yourself:

it’s also the flinch. Your personality is not set in stone. You may think a morning coffee

 is the most enjoyable thing in the world, but it’s really just a habit. Thirty days without it, and you would be fine. You think you have a soul mate, but in fact you could have had any number

of spouses. You would have evolved differently, but been just as happy. You can change

what you want about yourself at any time. You see yourself as someone who can’t write

 or play an instrument, who gives in to temptation or makes bad decisions, but that’s really

 not you. It’s not ingrained. It’s not your personality. Your personality is something else,

something deeper than just preferences, and these details on the surface, you can change

anytime you like.

If it is useful to do so, you must abandon your identity and start again. Sometimes, it’s the only way.

Set fire to your old self. It’s not needed here. It’s too busy shopping, gossiping about others, and watching days go by and asking why you haven’t gotten as far as you’d like. This old self will die and be forgotten by all but family, and replaced by someone who makes a difference.

Your new self is not like that. Your new self is the Great Chicago Fire—

overwhelming, overpowering, and destroying everything that isn’t necessary.”

— Julien Smith

Crafty Wonderland Wrap Up.

What a whirlwind! 

Crafty Wonderland was a blast last weekend.

So much fun to see my artful friends, their new wares,

and gather together to make a big cement room come to life.

A special thanks to my Mom who flew up to help out.

Here are links to some of my favorite crafty gals:

A Tea Leaf, Rookie Books, Rachel Austin,

Lori Shippy, and Laura Cooke Ceramics.

Thanks to everyone who came and shopped handmade!

Crafty Wonderland Sale this Weekend.

Come on down this Saturday and Sunday to

the Crafty Wonderland Sale!

I'm booth 170, second in from the entrance.

Swing in for some amazing handmade goods.

Paths.

Today I am thinking a lot about paths.

I am curiously pondering how we get on certain paths in our lives.

Where they lead, what lurks behind corners, 

what surprises lie beyond the next bend.

In a months time I am beginning a new path in a new town.

I will begin a six month adventure in art making,

forest living, and open time.

I wonder where it all will lead?