To Everything There is a Season

 Is it climate change? Or is it aging?

Well I know for sure that climate change is happening because the berries on the trees in my front yard used to turn orange, then red, then fall off the tree in late September. This year I noticed them beginning to turn orange in late July. By early August they were turning red and by mid-August they were falling off the trees. 

My studio window faces southeast. Typically summer sunrises are out of my reach and don’t come about until mid to late September. November and December bring the most brilliant sunrises… I got lucky this morning and caught a pink sunrise – only for a moment. I don’t accredit that to climate change as much as a fluke, but nowadays? Who knows.

I am sensitive to the seasons and grateful that I live in a place where we have seasonal changes. But those seasons are changing. I feel it. The summers are hotter and drier; the winters colder and drier, yet with bursts of surprise blizzards. Fall lately seems to come a bit earlier and sometimes stay a bit longer. Which is fine by me as it is my favorite season. Spring is fleeting and that makes me sad.

 I tend to nest and hibernate when the weather turns cooler – and I relish that. I can’t wait for that. Maybe my Norwegian/Danish genes are why I am so drawn to Hygge. This year – here we are, mid-August and I’m craving Hygge.

 Or is it 70 in the offing?

 I recently read:

“Research has shown that when people get older, they commonly recalibrate their goals. Though they might be doing less, they tend to prioritize what they find meaningful and appreciate. A decline in openness to new experiences could reflect someone relishing their routine rather than seeking new thrills… a decline in extroversion could indicate they are satisfied spending time with people they already love.”

I’ve never claimed to be an extrovert, quite the opposite. But I can relate to that statement. I’m settled. I’m content. I do what brings me joy. I spend time with causes and people (and animals, of course) who bring me joy. And I am oh so grateful to have the gift of time to do all of that.

Climate change and aging. There is some symmetry there.

O What A Beautiful Morning!

I've been shooting sunrises for as long as I can remember. Some require several frames and require that I run from the East to the West to the South and North. What a great way to start the day!!

And with that ~ Mornin' peeps!

Mornin' Peeps!

You know how it is. The cat decides it your turn to be her midnight buddy and she's walking up and down your body, meowing in your ear until you finally give up and rise at about 4 am.

Get up ya' lazy bum!

It's 3:30 and I'm hungry!

So even though I have a ton of work to do I decide, oh what the hell, it's only 4:15. I think I'll play around with the design of my blog. When I started this blog back in March I had just visited an impressive Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit at DAM. Obviously she had an impact on me because my take-away was her statement about "walking on the edge of the knife." At that time in my life I felt a little edgy, a little ready to take on the world ~ so I dubbed my blog "Walking on the Edge of the Knife."

I've been thinking for awhile that although I like to think I still have that edge to me a bit ~ today I am a more kind and gentle Cindi. Experiences over the past few months have mellowed me, humbled me and made me more grateful than edgy. So the Pollyanna side of me is kind of winning over the Georgia O'Keeffe side of me. 

So I returned to a phrase I use often ~ omysweetgoodness. It is what I say when something makes me happy. And I want to choose happiness and light over darkness and brooding. I remembered something my friend, Susan, said about keeping life fluid ~ change things up, keep things interesting. 

So Oh My Sweet Goodness is where I am in my life today. It might change next month. But for now it's where I am.

Back to designing and I look up and see the sun was rising so grabbed my camera.

Then I heard The Mister grinding his coffee beans so went down to make a coconut chai latte and chat a bit. He was all wound up because the car he thought was going to be ours suddenly isn't pearl white; it's red. Huh-uh. No thank you. We'll wait.

Back to designing and of course, you know how it is ~ I looked up and suddenly it is 8:10. And I still don't think I like the new design that much. And I really do have a ton of work and deadlines looming.

Step away from the computer, Cindi...

Be Kind to One Another

When I left Iowa at 19 I spent a short stint in Canada then moved to Colorado. Since September of 1974 I have called it my home. So I have officially celebrated my 39th year in my adopted home state. And over those 39 years I have made a LOT of road trips across the vast state of Nebraska to visit my family in central Iowa. In the early years it was just cheaper than flying with little kids. In the later years it was because we couldn't bear to be without our Boo for a week, so she always traveled with us.

After our trip in 2012 we knew that she didn't enjoy traveling that far anymore. So even before we knew she wouldn't be with us for the 2013 trip we had decided to leave her home in the loving care of our pet-sitter. Sadly she didn't make it that long.

I told The Mister that if I had to travel by car across Nebraska one more time my head would explode. (No offense, Nebraska peeps - it's just a very long, straight road to drive with the same scenery for 39 years.  Yikes.)

So we decided to fly ~ but also mix it up a little and see some country we haven't seen that much of.  We decided to fly into Minneapolis, spend some time there and rent a car to make the three hour drive to Mom in central Iowa.

We left our home at 5:45 am last Saturday (taking time to make breakfast and weigh our bags.) We parked in the outlying airport parking, snagging a parking spot 40 feet from the bus stop. Oh and as luck would have it, the shuttle bus pulled up right behind us. And we arrived at Denver International Airport as the sun rose.

Someone had booked our seats in the emergency exit row where there is no place to stash your bag under the seat in front of you. I'm a girl. I have to have my stuff.

 

So we joked with the ticket agent and bingo bango - we have better seats. The Mister thanked him for saving our marriage. 

We were fortunate to be among the first to board and our flight attendant instructed everyone as to their designated spot for carry-ons. She requested we put ours under the seats in front of us. (She and I got along fine.) I watched her as the remainder of the plane boarded. She was friendly and smiled but every inch of her 5' 100 lb. frame was all business. If she told you that was your overhead bin space, you listened. She joked and called herself "Judy the Baggage Nazi."

Get this - the pilot came out and talked to everyone. First thought, of course, omg the flight is delayed. Quite the contrary ~ he was welcoming us all and said if it was alright, we would be departing a bit early.  We arrived in Minneapolis 20 minutes ahead of schedule. As we left the plane I paused to thank Judy the Baggage Nazi and told her I had never been on such an organized flight!

Next step was to pick up our rental car. Someone had requested the wrong size car so the Hyundai Sonata we had hoped for wasn't available. Again, humour and patience paid off. The girl at Avis went above and beyond to find one for us. We waited. She came back and said, "You've got your Sonata!  I stole it from Budget."  

The Mister to our Avis agent, "Don't you own Budget?"

Me to our Avis agent, "You do now!"

Again The Mister thanked her for saving our marriage and we left fast friends.

So we check in to the Marriott (10 minutes from the airport) and have an afternoon to kill. Mall of America (MOA) is across the street, so what the hell ~ let's go see what all the fuss is about. We're walking, we're walking, we're walking. We stop in a few shops. A new carry-on bag with a padded shoulder strap was in order; my shoulders were killing me.  (Hey my carry-on was heavy but both checked in bags were 36 lbs and well under the weigh limit!)

I love handbags but I've never been into name brand bags. I'm more of a Marshall's/Kohl's whatever bag is on sale gal. But over the years my Mom-in-law and BFF/SIL have sent a few Vera Bradley's my way and I think they are kind of works of art. So when walking into the Hallmark store in MOA looking for something else, I stopped by the colorful Vera Bradley section in the front of the store. The bags aren't within my normal budget but I did fall in love with an extremely colorful one. (As Emile Zola said, "If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist will answer you: I am here to live out loud!") When I saw it had a padded shoulder strap, the deal was done. However... I kind of wanted to see the rest of collection in that pattern and theirs was limited. 

I asked the friendly clerk about that and she said if I really wanted to see all of them the Vera Bradley store was one floor down. And she said it genuinely and with a smile. So I finally found the store, took a quick look around and promptly took myself back to the Hallmark store and the nice lady and bought the bag from her.  Because she had been generous and honest and kind.

Considering every loop around MOA is a mile, we did our 5 miles. We found the delightful Napa Grille and plopped our sorry tired behinds down in seats on their patio. Our friendly server brought us our kale, chicken, roasted butternut squash and goat cheese salads. They were quite yum.

And so began our salad tour of the Midwest. And the oh so healthy side of fries almost every time.

As we were leaving I found our server to thank her and I found myself saying something Charlie's Gannie always said - what his Mother always says - "Have a happy life, sweetheart."

 

The Mister and I remarked as we were saying good night that wasn't it interesting how smoothly the day had gone. Even with a couple of bumps kindness begat kindness; laughter begat laughter and patience paid off.

 

There's a lesson there, grasshopper.

 

Wildfires and Wildlife and Wild Woman

It seems that no matter how early my day starts I sit down to write later and later. For me, that is a good sign. One that I am finally - for the first time in months - relaxing a little bit. And living my life a little more like a "normal" person rather than a work-crazed machine. Yay me. :)

Today started about 3:30 am, but it is amazing how fast the time goes. I did catch my first sunrise in awhile.

But unfortunately when I looked out my studio window (on the other side of the house) all I saw was haze.

Not so much haze as smoke from wildfires

burning north of us in Rocky Mountain National Park

It has been hot the last couple of days

Unusually hot for early in June.

And conditions were ripe for wildfires ~

extreme heat, dry vegetation and wind.

There are currently 4 wildfires burning in Colorado.

So I feel blessed that at sunrise today this was my path

But my thoughts were never far from friends to the south near one of the wildfires

And it occurred to me that we live on the edge of a wild 880 acre state park and are vulnerable. Perhaps an evacuation plan would be a good idea for us to develop.

I saw my lonely little friend again

And she saw me.

I have no idea if she is the same doe I saw the other day. But I am surprised to see a deer alone. I don't recall seeing a doe all alone before. I hope she's ok...

And it was nice to know the sentinel was at his post.

"Don't go in there."

Even after last night's delicious fish tacos from The Spicy Radish

I returned home super hungry. So it was time for some avocado eggs. The avocados were *ahem* quite ripe, so I did my best.

Yesterday I stocked up on smoothie ingredients so breakfast the rest of the week is on.

Blueberries and peaches and lemons

and oranges and bananas and pineapples - oh my.

Even cranky chicken approves.

And on a totally different note.

I used to take SPs all the time (before they were called "selfies").

Then I gained weight and I stopped liking myself.

I'm slowly working my way back.

She says popping another chocolate covered peanut.

Nuts are healthy, right?

Counting My Blessings

There I feel better now.  Got that out there - shook my fist and stomped my feet, swore like a sailor and today is looking a bit better.  

And compared to this tragedy -- pffft ~ I have no problems.

For the folks of Oklahoma ~

And for the rest of us (especially me) ~

No Time To Say Hello Goodbye.

I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.

Well, not so much late as over-committed.  Over-booked. Overwhelmed. Deadlines looming all at once.  Yikes stripes.

But 4:00 am does have it's advantages. Ten Whee Ones® cut and ready to sew before 7:30 am. And I caught one of these for the first time in weeks.

   

And in other news ~ our grandkitty has come to live with us.  She had a little house tour with Gramps this morning.

We tend to give our animals nicknames.  She's already Boda Butter or Boda Buddah or Boda Buddha.  I'm sure there will be more. Stay tuned for the adventures of Boda the City Cat in suburbia-land.  Y

Big Sky Required.

I remarked to someone the other day that I could never live anywhere that doesn't have big sky.  Unless it has an ocean.  Then I could. But the two typically go hand in hand.  Big sky ~ big ocean. Now there's a combo I could live with. Someday...

But since I've spent the last 38.5 years in landlocked Colorado, I turn to the sky. And it rarely disappoints.

I am extremely claustrophobic, so knowing there is a vast amount of open space above my head is comforting to me. (Ask my husband how many times he has had to take the stairs because I can't step into a crowded elevator...)

So big sky suits me just fine. Sometimes the sky is so blue it hurts my eyes.

And we are approaching one of my favorite times of the year for sky-viewing ~ Thunderstorm Season!!

Sometimes I see things in the sky that others don't.  Like hearts.

And sometimes I surprise myself.

And then there are the crazy, stupid, incredible sunsets.

And don't even get me started on the sunrises...

You know the drill ~~ mornin' peeps. :)

Birthdays and Aging and History

It's my sweetie's 54th birthday today.  The 22nd one I've spent with him.  So that thing I said about time being fleeting.  Hell yes it is.  Wow.

He was actually 31 when I met him; but as we were learning about each other and he discovered I was 36 he lied and said he was 36, too.  He turned 32 a month later and I think I began to suspect something was amiss then.  By that time it didn't matter.  I was too far gone.

When I met him he was younger than both my sons are now in 2013.  That is how fricking fast time goes.  (They are 36 and 33 now.)  And yet ~ I don't feel much older than when we met.  Of course, looking in the mirror reality smacks me upside the head on that one. 

Thinking about aging always brings to mind a line from "Meet Joe Black." Anthony Hopkins (as William Parrish) toasts the crowd assembled for his birthday saying, "And I'm going to break precedence and tell you my one candle wish:  that you would have a life, as lucky as mine where you can wake up one morning and say, 'I don't want anything more.' 65 years, don't they go by in a blink?"

And to that I say ~ hell yes they do.  

So Charlie and I are going to take a big bite out of life today.  Or at least go to lunch.  After work.  And maybe start planning that 20th Wedding Anniversary vacation ~ because that happens this year, too.  Wouldn't that be loverly...

I caught these geese gliding by the kitchen window early this AM as I prepared breakfast for Cry Baby Ranch (aka A-choo).  Her nickname is another story for another day.  

So, Mornin' Peeps!

Why I'm Here

My cell phone has made me a lazy photographer.

Facebook has made me a lazy writer.

A recent visit to a Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit inspired me to create this blog.  I'm not selling anything; not promoting anything.  This is my little space for me to just be me.  Relax a little already. 

Because at 58 and approaching age 60, Georgia got me thinking about how best to spend the rest of my time.  Holy moly time goes fast.  

I find I am beginning to instinctively take a few more chances.  I'm saying yes a little more often. I am worrying less about what others think of me and conversely listening to my own inner drummer more.  I want to travel more; there is so much out there I've yet to see...

I'm also giving myself permission to be selective as to how I spend my time and my energy ~ to surround myself with happy, positive and fun experiences and people.  I'm a little more outspoken and suffer fools less often.  Because I think I've earned the right to say no, too.  

So, come along on the ride if you want.  This is where I'll be starting my day ~ and maybe even ending my day ~ or checking in at noon.  It's my blog I can do whatever the hell I want.  ;-)  

And it is where I'll be greeting you each morning.  On that note ~~

Mornin' peeps!