Presence or Presents?

Sorry I missed yesterday. All kinds of getting ready for the trip to Atlanta going on. But, the best part was lunch with Susan and Pat. What great friends they are! We don't actually get together often, but when we do, it's such a deep feeling of love and appreciation for each other. Which reminds me of my recent prayer - I give you my love and my presence. As I meditated this morning I repeated my standard prayer for each family member and ended it with those words. My standard prayer? May you be filled with lovingkindness. May you be well. May you be peaceful and at ease. And, may you be happy. I offer this same prayer to each of you at this glorious time of celebration! And, I give you my love and my presence. As I repeated this several times this morning, it dawned on me - my presence is so much more meaningful than my presents! Happy Holidays!

Hello

WOW! It's cold! 26 right now. But, I'm warm, thank goodness! Missed weekend posts - really tired Saturday after the drive back home in the rain most of the way. Sunday was a quiet one, resting, and unpacking, and resting some more. This morning - I'm energized! Eager to get to the Y for yoga class and then run a few Christmas errands. I'm into the spirit after doing Christmas letter envelope addressing yesterday. Wish I had time to write long letters to each, but just can't make myself do that. The tiny notes were fun to do anyway. I'm eagerly awaiting more photos and notes from others. This is to be a busy day. Forgive me for the short, nothing much to say, note! I'll do better tomorrow.

Friday at South Beach

Last day in the villa. FINALLY warm. Actually took nice walk on the beach a couple hours ago! And, will get in at least one more today. Discovered a strange sight I cannot explain. Does anybody recognize this sack of something? Still hundreds of jellyfish on the beach again. Couple more nice photos this morning and one of Kate at her new Power Yoga Studio in Savannah that I took yesterday.----So glad my final day here is warm - looks like I'll be going back to real cold again tomorrow when I get home! And, it's not even January yet! ---for you shoppers - At the Liz Claiborne outlet yesterday we heard that they are closing all of their outlets - I got stuff at 70% off - real bargains are available if you like the brand. Back to knitting, reading, just being!

Being with the cold - being with what is!

Jim and me at Roast Fish and Cornbread

It's warm! I'm sitting in front of the wall of glass looking at the birds feeding at the edge of the ocean, the sun is up, surface of the Sound, actually the ocean is to my left, is rough, but not many whitecaps, tide is coming in moving to my right. There is a breeze, so no walk on the beach this morning - but hopefully this afternoon when we return from Savannah. We will be visiting Kate's new Savannah Power Yoga studio which will be opening January 2. -----Yesterday morning was another cold one, but it looks like the bitter cold is over with for now. What fun it has been to be here in this - I've been when it was too cold to walk the beach, but never when it was too cold to be outside! This time of just being with what is has been glorious. Being with what is - that's what I'm truly trying to get hold of somehow. Therein lies peace. I know that much. Since it was too cold to be outside and I was bored with being in my villa, I spent a few hours in the mall yesterday after lunch with Jim at Roast Fish and Cornbread.

South Beach Third Day

Still very cold here - feels like 18 this morning but will get up to 40 or so. Jim and Anne came over last night for the sunset - pizza and champagne, and Like Water in Chocolate movie together. Fun gathering. Today will be another inside one for the most part, but by tomorrow I will be able to venture out for a walk at least by noon. It is truly amazing, still, how free I feel away from home. There's nothing I feel obligated to do, get done, or plan to do. The doing requirement just falls away and leaves me being. I haven't even set foot in Chico's yet and I've been here two whole days! I'll probably fix that late today while it's too cold to do much but shop. I did shop at Fresh Market on Saturday when I arrived. What a joy! Found some gluten free pasta (corn) that I am enjoying. Thinking now about trying the Paleo diet - which appears to be pretty close to what I'm doing already. Except I've been eating a lot of grains. Jim's got my copy of the book right now, so don't really know what it says about corn. One thing I am testing now - I'm eliminating ice from my drinks and drinking warm water with meals to aid digestion. Only makes sense that ice would solidify stuff and warm water would help dissolve it. Anyhow, can't hurt me. Watched a friend in Ireland drinking hot water with meals and thought she was nuts, but it really does taste right! -----I've closed the vertical blinds to keep the warmth in but left a small window open so I can watch the birds and the water and the sunlight beginning to brighten into the new day of being.

Monday morning at South Beach. Last evening I ventured onto the beach for about 2 minutes - wind was blowing sand everywhere and even the lone little palmetto was bending! Now today, you can see whitecaps on the Sound and the pine tree bending toward the left - out to sea with the tide. It's very windy - I took that photo from inside my villa. The buildings are on Daufuskie Island, across the Sound. ---- So far, a wonderful stay! I'm coloring a mandala, learning to read my Kindle, knitting dishcloths and Sam's blankie, and even started my second book this morning. Woke with a compulsion I couldn't resist! Feels good to have turned "All By Myself" over to Jim so now I can write a new story. Stay tuned!

South Beach First Day

Here I am! Looking out my window at Calibogue Sound with the Atlantic to my left and Savannah in the distance behind the pine tree. And a view of my villa (center of building) from the beach last evening. Also, jellyfish beached! Never seen anything like it. This is so much fun - here's another couple of shots I took last evening.

Being,doing,having enough

What a great day yesterday! I got all kinds of things done that were really fun. It's rare to have a day when nothing needs to be done - just doing what comes to mind moment by moment. I am truly happy I found time to write my Christmas letter. I've been doing that for about a dozen years and it's always fun to re-read the letters each year. They make a nice memory bank which I expect even grandchildren will enjoy one day.---Also, another very happifying thing - I took a bunch of stuff to the Faith Home - old Christmas decorations, three really nice skirts that are now too big for me and a few other things that others can enjoy as Christmas gifts either to give or receive. I've noticed that my giveaways are becoming more valuable monetarily as time goes by. What a joy! I'm not just giving away junk, but almost like-new expensive possessions. What a blessing to know that I am financially secure and that I will always have "enough." I recently bought for my Kindle a book by Wayne Muller entitled something like "Living a Life of Being, Doing and Having Enough." I am eager to get to reading it! I think I'm beginning to FEEL that I am being, doing and having enough - WHAT A RELIEF! You'll hear more about this in days to come, rest assured. -----Word is it will be raining much of the time while I'm gone - at least there it will be doing so ---great time for reading and writing - my two favorite pastimes. I've finally realized why they are so satisfying for me - Reading and writing lift veils concealing who I really am.

Christmas Tree 2010

Last day here before my week off. Some may wonder why I need a week off - I do myself sometimes. But, the fact is, a change of scenery does wonders for my psyche! The stimulation of seeing new places and faces stirs my imagination and lights my fires. And, especially the ocean sounds and movements are inspiring, calming, and exciting - all at the same time. My imagination takes off in such an environment. So, I will write, of course. In addition, getting away from home responsibilities, is a relief - even for me with arguably the least home responsibilities of anyone I know! I work hard to keep it that way. There are so many other delightful things to do and think about--like imagining. Imagining (daydreaming, some might call it) is one of my favorite pastimes. I spend a lot of time dreaming up new projects, trying on new ideas, giving up old used-up, outgrown ideas, and just settling into who and where and what I am at the moment. There's a lot to be said for living "in the present moment." And a lot has already been said about it and written about it. ------ Grandchildren help one remember the joy of imagining. Check out the photo of my Christmas tree decorations for this year. There are 5 new ones the children made Thanksgiving while here. Compare this tree with the one at yesterday's post to find them.

Battling the Cold

Here's my Christmas tree with last year's ornaments - handmade by grandchildren! Today I'll add this year's ornaments and photograph it again. By the way, if you click on the photo it will enlarge. Just in case you didn't know that!

Can't believe it was last Monday when I wrote! I've been writing all week and finally wrapped up Draft 4 of All By Myself. So now I'm looking for publishing oportunities (Jim and I both are) - just can't resist making a few inquiries. If any of you have any suggestions, please pass them along. ------There is ice on the Pond at the shallow end over by the island and in the cove and a small amount here near the dam right at the shoreline. Wonder when we'll get the whole Pond frozen over like last year once? I remember photographing the ducks standing on the ice. If this cold continues, like it seems to plan to do, it won't be too long. Predictions are for a high of 29 next Monday or Tuesday - thank goodness I'll be in Hilton Head where it will be 39! Not going to be much walking on the beach, but at least I'll be looking at it from my villa.----Yesterday I sealed all the windows in the cottage with clear plastic sheeting and it clearly made a difference. I had been wondering why the bathroom was so cold and discovered I'd never shut the storm window! So, closing that helped, too. I just can't live with closed curtains, so must use the clear plastic so I can open them and not be too cold - or have the propane gas burning all the time! ---The whole world outside is so clear and bright! What a joy to be able to watch the sun come through the trees and warm up things just by seeing it! One of my dreariest memories was the gray skies in Eugene, Oregon from September to May! Not good for one's attitude, at least it wasn't good for mine! Even frigid Iowa City was more bearable because of the brightness of the sun reflecting off the snow and ice.

When do I have only enough?

Happy Monday morning! Yesterday was a COLD one. Still, the Yogatorium was nice and warm when Guilda and I did some back work. The book is very close to ready for Jim to look again. Feeling good about it. Also feeling good about my work with yoga students. Looking forward to second class at the Y this morning. Have managed without buying groceries for several days now, but must go today - STILL eating Thanksgiving turkey, lamb, dressing, sweet potatoes, etc. We overcooked this year and I'm getting pretty tired of the same old stuff. ---- JacqueB solved one book mystery for me. I had been writing about our consumeristic society and quoting a speaker from a couple years ago who kept talking about ENOUGH. That is, when is what I have enough? I couldn't remember his name and dear Jacque came up with it - Wayne Muller - and notes she had made! What a great friend! By the way, what I have is still more than enough, but I'm working on paring it down to just enough. Great challenge for the new year! The problem when you have more than enough is you still have to take care of all of it! This results in wasting a lot of time doing that instead of something more to my liking! Plus, it makes it really hard to find what you want when you have to go through all the stuff you don't want or need to find it! And that's my philosophical message for today!

Horse trapped

Whee! It's COLD. And looks like it's gonna get colder! Thank goodness I'll have a week with at least somewhat warmer weather after I get to Hilton Head on next Saturday. Usually about ten degrees warmer at the coast. For now, hot chocolate for breakfast really lifted my spirits. -----good yoga session at 3:00 yesterday - looking forward to another today and tomorrow at 3:00.----Not much to report today except that I will venture forth and get some laundry done ---- need to go to town to renew a prescription anyway so might as well do laundry at the same time. ------Proud of myself yesterday when I managed to replace a strip of molding in the bathroom that had been broken. Needed a small saw, but had to make do with a utility knife. Anyhow, it's fixed! Always makes me feel good to fix something like I've never fixed before. Part of the fun of living alone. My Mom was an expert at fixing stuff - Dad was always gone during the week and some things just couldn't wait - like the time the horse fell into the water trough and was trapped lying on his back! Mom had to get neighbors to help get the horse out, but she made it happen! We never did figure out how the horse managed to get in there unless another one shoved him in????

Just stuff

Well, Jim solved the computer mystery! He, too, had trouble and called Verizon customer support to learn that the data transmission all over the southeast was not functioning!!! Of course, later, it was. Their mobile phones were OK, but not the internet connections. ----- Made a lot of progresson the ms yesterday and eager to get back at it this morning. ----Had the curtains open for a few minutes and noticed a strange phenomenon - the mist on the Pond was traveling west to east for a while and the next time I looked it had reversed - going east to west! Then, it seemed to meet in the middle coming in from both directions at once! STRANGE. ------Today for the first time, yoga at 3:00 in the Yogatorium. Hope that new time for Friday, Saturday and Sunday will attract more people. -------One more Thanksgiving photo. Walker has progressed to removing his fish from the hook without help - at least sometimes! Can you guess which SC university is his fave?

Computer stuff still

Well, I'm still at it. Seems like this week is computer fixit week! Spent all day Tuesday going to and from Atlanta to have the boys uninstall a virus, now today can't seem to get connected to the internet - finally made that happen and then couldn't do email. Lastly to CU help desk and a new password. In a few minutes I'll test that and see what happens. This is not at all what I had planned for this day. Guess what, plans don't always pan out! So, we roll with the punches and shift our emphasis! It is such now that I simply can't function without my internet connection and emails! So, sometimes the system just has to be refurbished, or needs an oil change, a tune=up or whatever. Think I'll look at a nice scene on the Pond from Thanksgiving! Luke is watching Gus after his ball near the pedal boat.

Something very strange is going on. Trying again.

Good morning.! This is a trial. Computer failed again this morning.

Computer Virus Conquered

What a day yesterday was! On Monday, Tate and I tried to fix what was wrong with my computer via phone and just couldn't do it. So, I left for Atlanta yesterday morning at 6:30 - drove the 3 hours to his office and we spent four hours getting rid of the virus, with Luke's help, and I drove back home. This morning, I'm TIRED. But, my computer is cured! Without any antibiotics, but lots of antics, the virus was defeated. How fortunate I am to have two sons willing and able to do such for me! We all kind of enjoyed the time together in spite of missing lunch. ------ Now I'm back to the All By Myself ms. I have ten days to polish it before taking it to Hilton Head with me for readers Jim has located. ------- Taught my first yoga class at the YMCA on Monday and was very pleased with the group of 13 who showed up and apparently really liked my teaching style. We'll see how it goes from here. ------ It's turned cold now, lows below freezing and highs in the low 50s. So, it's a good time to stay in and study and write and read. Some day soon, however, I must venture out to the laundromat and get all the sheets and towels washed from Thanksgiving. But today is an at home one. Just for fun, I'll add another photo from the Thanksgiving weekend. Here's Walker and Tate canoeing.