The Nest

I'm at home for awhile. Really at home. I won't be leaving the Salt Lake valley until early November. I'm getting into it. While my moms nest, so will I. We have a brand new roof and freshly buffed hardwoods for starters. Since we went right from winter to summer, no spring to clean in, I'm doing that now. It is so satisfying to detox the house and overflow the trash cans. Project 1, The Basement is almost done. It was OK before, but always a bit of "leftover" feel. The big screen blue ray lives down there so we finally got a piece of furniture for it to call home. Yep, Evan, true. It no longer sits on top of the old console TV. I found curtains that I can say I really love in a Pottery Barn catalog AND they don't cost as much as a small car. Just in time. I was about to sew some, even bought the fabric. I have a Franti poster deluxe and a really cool something from NM to mat and frame. Until Jade comes home to paint the new little room I created for myself, the down downstairs is done. I like it.

The main floor gets a little surprise this week. New furniture in the family room. I'd like to replace the claw foot dining table in the kitchen. It has nostalgic value though. We bought it when Nat was new born. I think of all the baby baths, preschool shaving cream finger painting, homework, cutting out prom dresses, Christmas card projects, doing "the bills" and zillions of meals that happened on that table and I have to draw a detox line. For now. A little polish, maybe some great throw pillows and a cleanse of all that's accumulated on top of the fridge and we're good on the main floor.

Upstairs. The yellow room is dreamy. I would like to completely gut the main bathroom and start over. Anybody know of a good bathroom remodel er? Everything else is good. When I clean my room it really is a little sanctuary. My sound system has some problems. My Sonos needs to be re configured, the Mac's export sound is not working and on and on . Lindsay will be here soon and I'm counting on her to unkink that stuff.

Soooo. . . please. Open the door and come on in. I kinda like it here.

Ray on Loss

I took in a good concert last Saturday, me and Steen. Our seats (non-seats) weren't so good. I went for Brandi Carlile and Steen has a Ray LaMontagne thing. Turns out I now have a Ray thing. I wish wish wish we could do it over. Be first in line, be in the front. I really want to see him again.
The good part was my time with my girl. So what that we ended up at BK (before concert's end) eating cold fries in exchange for use of their bathroom. Just part of the story.
Is loss kinda like that? At first you die to do it over. Then you sit back and see what really matters and discover you have a pretty good part. Or maybe you resolve that next time you will plan better and win all of it. I don't know. Just rambling on this 2nd day of summer.

I can barely breathe. . .

She is amazing. Yes, please click on She.
All I can say is that if this lovely girl chooses to shine,
this world is in for a whole lotta brightness.
Stand in your power, Steen.

quickie

. . . escaped to the city different

The flat topped mountain to the far right is Georgia O'Keeffe's Padernal.

"God told me if I painted it enough, he would give it to me."

This picture was taken on the Ghost Ranch property.

How can you not love a place with stores that look like this?

Breakfast: Pinon Nut Caramel and Get Happy tea

From my journal:

*This Santa Fe air makes everything clear. The conduit from heart to the place of spirit is crisp.

*Met a street people man today, his dog drew me in. Big spotted girl was standing on her hind legs, front paws on his chest. Her name was Bonnie Blue.

*An oldish dude was on the bench outside the food market. He wanted change. I know the rules. Gave him a dollar anyway. Wish I would have given him more. If it was going in his liquor fund, maybe he could have bought something finer than usual, had himself a happy Saturday night, felt one bit better about his lot.

*At the Plaza today a man was playing his Native flute, selling CDs. He only had two to choose from. One flute/piano, the other flute/drums. I asked if he would play samples for me on his flute. He did. Muy bien. I bought both + a tip. Buying Karma everywhere I go. . .

*I miss Bri here. She would have smiled over the petite cup of steaming hot Mexican white chocolate. I mailed her a postcard. Address: Stars So Far, Universe.

*Does anyone want to name their baby O'Keeffe? Please. . . I will freely, happily baby-sit O'Keeffe anytime.

*Maybe I can get a new dog. Yes. That's the ticket. I will name him Odyssey A. O'Keefee. I will find him, abandoned or lost somewhere. After a thorough, futile search for his family, I will claim him as mine and he will be happy about it. He'll need lots of neck scarf bandana things. He will have a dog blanket bed but can sleep with me too. I will make his food and bake his treats. I'll take him on road trips to the Land of Enchantment. I think he will love me to play Johnny Winter real loud.

~the end

her own little corner of the world

across the universe

transitions

transformative

transport

transference

maggie is on her way. she is brave. i am lucky.

we don't know what lies ahead, only what is behind us.

you know how they say "leap and the net appears",

well, she did it.

i think it's going to be good.

she taught me that God is good, all the time.

still, it takes courage to leap.

i will gladly be a net.

we can't return, we can only look behind from where we came

and go round and round and round . . .

*

the door of no return

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