Yoga Retreat at the Yogatorium January 21

OK. I'm committed. Here's the description.

January 21, 10:00 to 4:30 - $10 in advance.

Come join a small group of yoga enthusiasts for six hours of yoga practices, journaling, and group interaction. Make 2012 your year of caring for your body, mind, and spirit by jump-starting with this program practicing stretching, flexibility, strength and balance. Bring your own lunch. We will end the day with wine, cheese and crackers at four o'clock. Reserve your space by mailing a $10 check to Jaquie Haymond, 1909 Tillman Territory Road, Ninety Six, SC 29666. Highlights: Gentle Flow Yoga Asanas (Poses), Pranayama (Breathing), Meditation, Journaling, Group Support. No experience needed. Come and see what yoga can do for you.!

FYI: Pat Grier has just offered to do some reflexology as part of our Group Support!

Cold Coming - Year Ending

Wow! Cold this morning. Just went up to turn on heat at the Yogatorium wearing hat, coat, etc. And, even turned on the oven a few minutes to warm up the living area! A mug of hot tea and I'm ready. I've still got bedroom windows to cover with plastic so I'll get to that today. Looks like the cold is about to become more constant. Still, not in the teens yet - and that's fine with me. It is weather for making soup and staying inside at least early in the morning. Already the sun is peeking through the trees and soon my cottage will be warm as toast as it pours through the windows. ....Hard to believe there are only three days left in this year - and so many things uncompleted that seemed important last January. But, then, many things for me have gone far better than expected - the important ones have all gone well. Thanks be to God!

BELIEVE - Every day is the prayer.

First we have to believe, and then we believe.....G. C. Lichtenberg
SO, keep on believing that you have the passion, intelligence, brilliance, creativity, wisdom, clarity, depth, and savvy to find that quiet center of solace, serenity, and strength necessary to create and sustain an authentic life. Every day is the prayer. An authentic life is the most personal form of worship. When you start believing, you'll discover that all things are really possible.

These words come from my Daybook by Sarah Ban Breathnach. They speak to me very clearly at this time of year when I am considering making changes in my life - I do this every year about now. I have finally come to understand that no successful change in my life occurs without faith. That's what believing is all about--having faith that I can make positive changes.

Last Day at Seaside Villa, Hilton Head 12/2011

Late getting to this today. Busy going back and forth to the beach from about ten this morning till just now. Luckily my villa is only a couple minutes walk to the ocean. It has been an absolutely beautiful sunny day all day long! I even got an hour-long sunbath and you can see where my straps were!!! On December 20. I love getting some Vitamin D and a bit of color in my face in December! And most years I manage to do so at least once. What a kick to live in SC where the weather is so often pleasant.........Tonight we're going to dinner and jazz - I've never been to the Jazz Center restaurant, but Jim and Anne went years ago. The leader of the group is the owner of the restaurant and has been there for many years.....been a long time since I've had the pleasure of dinner and jazz! Probably back in the 50s when Bob and I went to Hermosa Beach to hear the Lighthouse All-Stars. And we didn't eat then - except snacks. I remember the table being just large enough to hold a saucer, an ash tray, and four beer bottles---maybe 12 inches in diameter. And the place was packed full....tomorrow it's back to the Pond. It's been a great week - exactly what I had hoped for. Ready for yoga class at the Yogatorium tomorrow evening.

Farm Visit at Sylvania, GA

Wow! What a fun day yesterday! Jim, Anne, Rich (Anne's father) and I went to Brad and Kate's farm near Sylvania, GA. Brad took me and Jim on a grand tour of the farm via ATV and at one stop I got to hold a new lamb, less than a week old. The nanny had gone a short distance away to eat. .....Lunch was a "meat-tasting" of food from the farm: goat, lamb, pig, and cow! Of course sides of veggies, too. If you're interested, go to www.ljwoodsfarm.com for photos and a few facts about the more than a hundred animals living there - special breeds adapted to living in the piney woods.....Today is another writing/beach day and it's time to get to that before mybrain shuts down and I end up just beaching!

Harbor Town at Hilton Head

Here are photos taken from the top of the Harbor Town Lighthouse yesterday. Jim and Anne live in the building on the top floor far right behind the pine tree. The other scene is just to the right of their building - 18th green and Calibogue Sound in view. ....Today we are going to the farm - Kate and Brad's farm - looking forward to my first visit there. Did my Chico's shopping last evening. Writing still going well. Weather is spectacular! Looks like it will last till Wednesday when I return to the Pond. My villa isn't spectacular, but entirely adequate. Have a happy Sunday!

Gulls at Coligny Beach, Hilton Head

I have some lovely photos from my beach walk yesterday. I spent nearly an hour sitting on a wooden storage cabinet (several stationed along the beach, probably for chairs) watching the gulls. I counted 86 at one time. If you look closely (or enlarge) the photo with 4 in front, you will see a whole host of them at the top of the photo. Enjoy.