Bucket List

Bucket List ...........

I'm not sure exactly
what I would put on my list.
Travel goes without saying,
but where?
I mean, what's at the tip top of my list?

I'm turning 50 next year
and I have a decision to make.

Where to celebrate!?!

I can go really anywhere in the world.

It seems like it would be an easy decision to make, but it's not.

I love new and different,
yet Africa is always floating in my head.
Really, at least once a day
I dream of Africa.

But who knows,
India
Japan
Nepal
Patagonia
they may be the place
that once I go, I won't forget.

Ahhh.........such a wonderful predicament I'm in.

My Bucket List

XO - LA

Take Flight

I want to be at the beach.

There, I said it.

It is such a beautiful day here,
full of fall glory and perfect temperatures.

I could almost be seduced into thinking
that this is the perfect day.

But for some reason,
I just want to see
and hear
and smell
and taste
and feel

the water
the sand
the breeze
the gulls
the waves crashing

the solitude that this time of year offers
at the beach.

I'm never quite sure what sets me off
when I want to be at the beach.
I just get "set off"
and I long to be there.

So, the next best thing to being there
is to go through
all my beach files
and remember
the sweetness of being there.

Yep, I'm ready to take flight......
but ....
another day, I guess.

XO - LA

Ways to be beautiful......

For attractive lips,
speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes,
seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure,
share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair,
let a child run his/her fingers
through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge
that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things,
have to be restored,
renewed, revived,reclaimed,
and redeemed;
never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
you will find one at the end
of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will
discover that you have two hands;
one for helping yourself,
and the other for helping others.

-Audrey Hepburn

This poem was sent to me today,
and I had to share.
What a beautiful woman she was,
inside and out!

These are a few of the pieces I've been
working on lately.

Enjoy!

XO - LA

A Play Day......

Yesterday, the sunshine and blue sky literally pulled me out of the house.

Original Plan : Yoga
New Plan : Atlanta Botanical Gardens

There are many different ways to practice yoga, both on the mat,
and off the mat.
Yesterday I practiced off the mat!

I grabbed my camera and loaded myself into the car for a great escape.

(The past 5 weeks of contractors and painters have really tested my patience.
I needed OUT.)

I always forget what a wonderful place the botanical gardens is (are?). I actually joined yesterday so there will be no excuses not to pop in from time to time. It's the perfect place to stop and enjoy the passing of seasons.

Tomorrow begins the Dalai Lama festival!

I'll take you with me in spirit!

XO - LA

Dalai Lama

I just finished watching a great documentary on the Dalai Lama in preparation for his visit to Emory University and my "visit" with him.

I was struck so much by his life, words and wisdom.
But it all came back to one principal.

Kindness.

He kept stressing that it really didn't matter what religion you practiced, or if you practiced a religion at all. It only mattered how you spent your days.....being kind to yourself and your fellow human beings, as well as the earth and all the other species we share it with.

The images are from my trip to Thailand and Vietnam a few years back. That trip was such a great opportunity to see how the "enemy" of my childhood lived. You know what, they live just like I do.

Day to Day.

So, I ask, what is the difference between us?

Check out 10 Questions For The Dalai Lama if you can.

And try to find someone today that just might like a sneak attack of kindness!

XO - LA

Seeing The Poetry

seeing the poetry ....

Isn't life about seeing the poetry
of it and in it?
Isn't it about stopping
in order to enjoy the moments?
Diving deeply in them....
Have we realized how
everything else is senseless?
We'll get no possessions,
when we leave this life,
with us.
All we'll take with us is who WE are,
and who we are is an accumulation of
our moments
in
life.

I saw this poem and thought about my trip to Los Angeles. That week was centered around yoga and girlfriends, so it was such a great opportunity for me to just "be". Be present, be myself.

I did take my camera out a little and played. In hind sight, I wish I had done more of that. L.A. is THE city to capture! As I looked back at the pictures tonight, I was reminded of the constant vibe of that city. Just be. OK, it is Hollywood and fake and kind of like a stage set.
But you know what?
They celebrate that in themselves!

It's like they shout.....
"HEY, LOOK AT US. WE ARE TOTALLY COOL BEING L.A. YEAH, WE KNOW WE ARE 'HOLLYWOOD-ISH', BUT THAT'S WHO WE ARE
AND WE ARE PROUD OF IT!"

So, let's celebrate the poetry of life,
and our part in it. It's about the moments,
and who we are in those moments.
Yeah, L.A. is a very material world place,
but it's a reminder of being who you are.
Whatever or whoever you are.

My goal:
If we could all....
just "be" who we are in every moment.
Oh, yeah,
and could we just try to allow others to
"be" who they are in every moment?

Hey..........wait.
This is all sounding very familiar.
Didn't the Beatles do something with this a few
decades ago?

Well, sometimes we must
rediscover life.
And Let It Be.

XO - LA

P.S. No photoshop with these pictures.
I decided to just
Let Them Be.

;)

Before and After

Hi there!

It's been a while, but life has been good.
Busy, fun, and full.

Last night I played a bit with a photo
and thought I would share.
I'm having a great time with my photoshop
and can't believe all the fun buttons you can push.

This photo is one I have loved and been looking forward
to playing with it.
I took it while in San Miguel, Mexico last spring.
It was late afternoon and this little girl
climbed up the light post to get a better view of a parade.

I loved the way the light shone through her skirt.
(And I wanted her shoes!!)

While the photo was good,
I really wanted to get rid of the busy background.

I finally found a way to soften her surroundings.
(Don't you just wish it was that easy in life?)

I also played a little with the colors.
I hope you like the changes.



XO - LA

Things you miss....

Isn't in strange
the things you miss.

I'm back home from a
wonderful trip to London
and it's been fun to reflect
on what I missed when I
wasn't at home.

For me it was Rick
and the kids
and Georgie.
To be greeted at the airport
by a 3 year old running and jumping
into my arms for a long snuggle.
Well, enough said.

But this morning after a 6 AM spinning class,
I will admit.
The bathtub was mighty beautiful.
Any my smoothie made with my blender.
And a cup of java, not tea!

What do you miss most when you travel?

"There's nothing half so pleasant
as coming home again."
-M.E. Sangster

XO - LA

Holland Park

Hello There!!

Real Quick.....
I did get my short walk in.
Can I just say......yum.

Just a sampling for your eyes only.

XO - LA

A Sepia Study

Who says life is Black and White?
I just loved these images and thought
I would quickly share.

Today we are back to the painting.
(rooms, not canvases!)

The sun is shining this morning
so, who knows.....
maybe I'll find myself in a park
later today.

Now wouldn't that be lovely?

Have a great Wednesday.

XO - LA

Steps From My Door

Before the rain set in this afternoon,
I thought I would let you see what is just steps
from my door.

This, by the way, is my front door for the week.

The window boxes are deep,
and are as varied as the
many cultures in London.

While things in Atlanta are starving for water
(and a bit of cool weather)
everything here is blooming happily.
It seems that the plants don't even know
that Autumn is just around the corner.

But just as soon as you get to thinking
things will bloom forever here.....
you spot a lone golden leaf.

Even here in Camelot,
things change.
And change is good!

"It's not the letting go that hurts, it's the holding on."

Isn't the changing of seasons the best reminder
that everything comes and goes?
It's wonderful to love where you are and what you have.
It's even wonderful to feel the tinges of sadness or discontent.
What's really wonderful is the trust and the
knowing that growth comes from change.

Grow On Baby, Grow On!!

XO - LA

Saturday Shopping.

Saturday in London means Portobello Road shopping. So, when in London......
We had such fun just people watching and checking out this and that. For a mid-morning break, we had a cupcake, then for lunch a shared street sandwich.


The weather was a bit grey, but that didn't stop the crowds. It just made it look more natural to see everyone everywhere with their umbrellas open. This is Millie under hers, snapping away. It was best to be inside though....... so, we were forced to go inside this boutique for refuge. OK, that's being a bit melodramatic because it wasn't even spitting rain when we ducked in here. I have a few more photos of this shop, but the French saleswomen figured out what I was doing, said no photos allowed. The beauty of the iPhone is that you can take pictures and look like you are texting. (I did stop taking photos, but I didn't erase what was already done.) These are with the hipstamatic app. A lot of fun.



Finally, the weather broke for the afternoon and we enjoyed the sunshine and the just very, very, very beginning of fall type weather.



XO - LA

Free time.

I had forgotten what it's like to have Free Time. You know, there is absolutely nothing you need to do, or even can do for that matter. But, you're not sick....that doesn't count.

This is what I did for about an hour yesterday afternoon while waiting for Millie. I downloaded the hipstamatic app for my iPhone and just walked around the flat. Some really cool images appeared. I love, love the way it tinged everything with the blue haze.


This was out the cab window on our way to Helen's flat for a great girls night.

I hope you are well and finding a little Free Time of your own.........

XO - LA

Happy to be here.

Well, I had forgotten how London just IS.

The flight over was uneventful, but a bit bumpier than I like. I made a new friend on my flight, since Millie, my flight mate... and reason for coming to London, was upgraded to Business Class for some unknown reason. (I won't get into how insulting it is to stand at the check in counter and watch your seat mate whisked up in class while you stand there looking very happy to have been overlooked.....her fold out bed for a seat looked mighty nice as I walked past her down the aisle) But I digress. My new friend was a "lovely" 21 year old English girl who had just been in Atlanta visiting her mother. It turns out, her mother teaches French and Spanish at Paideia. Small world, non? Her mum started teaching there after my kids left but it was fun to talk about the old Jr. High building (or slum!) compared to the new digs, and the state of the new up and re-coming Mother Goose building.

We arrived to clear skies, but the dark clouds gathered as we unpacked our things. It rained on the skylight over my shower as I showered.....very cool. By the time we left for our errands, the skies had cleared and it was back to sunny and mild. We got Millie's On Street parking sticker, picked up her car and went to Whole Foods. Man. That. Is. One. Great. Whole. Foods. Three floors of produce and cheeses and breads and yummy skin lotions and soaps and ice cream and flowers and and and. Would you believe there is a make your own muesli bar? I'm sure we will hit that place again during the next week or so. I already have a list of must haves to take home.



Dinner was at Zizzi's, a great Italian place around the corner. After dinner, we had a long walk to get gelatto. I'm not sure the walk was long enough to un-do the damage done by a double scoop on a cone, but it helped us feel better about it all.

Back at the flat we had a "cuppa" (tea), then actually made it past 10:00 PM. I'm quite impressed that we stayed up and had a jam packed day. Now, off to bed............

XO - LA

revolving door ?

Well, I'm off and running again. This time, London calls! I just checked my iPhone for weather updates......rain, rain, rain and highs of 60's. I must admit, that sounds quite cozy and nice.

I do love the change of seasons, but truth be told, this was one of the most beautiful garden seasons I have seen in quite some time. I thought I would leave you with a couple of photos from the summer....one from my Atlanta garden, and one from Cashiers. I'm sure in the depth of winter I will dream of warmth, but right now, a little cool and rainy sounds lovely. (See, even my English is moving over the pond preparing for my journey!)

Enjoy and we'll talk again soon.

XO - LA