Good

Sunset shot, courtesy of the boy...

I found it amusing to look over and see the kids studiously reviewing the cards as the flight attendants were doing their safety routine.

We've only been back for a day and Mom has already taught the kids how to make a mini Japanese container garden. They loved doing it and I loved watching them together...

And it was then that I felt a pang of---what---is there a word for that?  A feeling that holds not regret or sadness,  maybe sentiment? Where I don't regret anything, but still miss what could be? If there isn't a word for this, I/someone needs to invent one as it will surface often this week.

It is good to be back in Orlando. It's good to feel the love from family and friends who are eager to make time for us. It's good to be on familiar roads and look forward to familiar restaurants. (Sidetrack: Did you know that Orlando has a large Vietnamese population and in my humble opinion, has some of the best Vietnamese restaurants I've ever had? Nothing in Colorado compares so far).

Yesterday I ran into an old friend that I use to work with 10 years ago, it was good to see her too.

As hard as it can be sometimes, it's good to miss something isn't it. We appreciate them better, and make the time we do have more meaningful. The kids are learning this and it brings me so much joy to see them with the ones that love them so much.

I know I state the obvious, I'm good at that. It's good to be good at something ;).

Have a good- fabulous weekend...

xoxo

Colorado

We arrived last evening and are still reeling from the "high" of being here. We will pick up the kids this afternoon after we make our first drive to the Denver airport. I have to say that that is all I can think about right now, I've missed them so much. Last night, we walked around our temporary neighborhood and found a Whole foods, a bakery, coffee shops, a meditation center, yoga studios, a yarn store, and endless restaurants.

Yep, I think I'm home...

♥

 p.s. Santa Fe was mysterious and wonderful. It held an energy that I had never felt before...I will definitely be heading back there :). Will share more with pics soon!

Austin, TX

First I want to say thank you for sharing in this journey with me. I read your comments and know that I am missing much of what's happening in your corners. I do apologize for neglecting you!! I will be back as soon as our dust trail settles.

There is no better way to describe the impression that Austin has left on us other than vivid, vibrant, and energetic. What a fantastic city. Like an unexpected fling, Austin took us for a spin, enamored us and delighted us, flaunting its delectable culture of food, style, and people. From its hills of mountain laurels, the hidden yet busy hike and bike trails, to its independently hip stores perfectly balanced with vintage, antique and bohemian flavors, a day and a half is not long enough for a love affair with Austin, TX. Fortunately, we had an amazing guide. Wally, a 78 year old former mentor and teacher of my husband's, had our visit planned literally from the moment we hopped out of our car on Friday afternoon, to the moment we climbed back in on Sunday morning. To say he had an agenda was an understatement. Wally, a wanderer himself having criss-crossed this country 65 times, splits his time between Stowe, Vermont and Austin. He is a naturalist, hiking and biking enthusiast, and all around cultural and historical encyclopedia. We were in good hands.

It began with an hour and a half hike in the urban hills of south Austin, over rocks, creeks, and wildflowers, taking us to cliffs and overlooks worthy of any popular mountain range.

The history museum and an IMAX film on the "The Story of Texas", the art museum, a sculpture museum, a walking tour of downtown Austin...

A stop at the toy store "Toy Joy", just for fun...

And then there was Boomerang's, where I had the best curry veggie pie ever...A great concept of only selling meat and veggie pies. Can anyone say "franchise", please?

Wally has a sweet tooth, so he made sure he took us to try two of his most favorite blueberry pies in the country, both vegan, both sinfully delicious.

Banjo players on the streets, peacocks wandering in gardens, stores like Uncommon Objects full of found items I could fill my home with, and people exercising, loving the outdoors, loving the city that they live in, absolutely everywhere. I know we had just enough of a taste of Austin to force us to look over our shoulders with one last, longing glance that shouts "until we meet again ..."

We have hit the road again since Austin, and several hours and miles later we are now in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Santa Fe is next, and I can't wait since everyone keeps telling us how amazing Santa Fe is. I will let you know :).

cheers
♥

Linking with Amanda...

our road to the rockies

Onward with joy

Despite the sobering (thanks Rain for the perfect word) way yesterday ended, I remember that today is Friday, today is Joy Pockets. I have mourned this man that I didn't know. I have reflected over and over again the few, but now very percussive thoughts I had about him when he passed our car. I mourn for his family and mourn for the poor trucker who hit him. I admit it is very hard to shake these shadows that seem to have seeped into the folds of our joy. But, the plain truth is that there was joy---so much joy that I remember sitting with contentment and relishing in awareness, gifts so elusive in our busy lives.  So with one last thought of peace for all affected in yesterday's accident, and with one more nod of respect to life and to death, I remember the joy that urges us onward...

driving in the whiteness of misty morning fog

lunch at Mother's in New Orleans--the turnip greens and jambalaya!

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar on Bourbon Street--full of wood, stone, and character




New Orleans Museum of Art: Picasso, Chagall, Modigliani--need I say more?

Still Life With Candle, Picasso 1937

hearing my children's voices on the phone (I miss them so much!! They fly out to join us next week :)

the healing, soothing, sustaining nature of music...with music, everything comes alive

my road trip playlist (well part of it :)

Onward friends!!! Next stop, Austin, TX....

♥

Mobile, Alabama

Okay so, aside from the 18 wheeler trucks that zip by us regularly on the highway, guess what else we see incessantly? Travel trailers, Coachmens, mobile homes tricked out in style like this one we passed.  I am in awe of how many people are road travelers and wanderers, and as we passed them, I couldn't help peering into the drivers seats, wondering if one day I could see myself in that seat. Perhaps with a traveling home like this one, I could. 

We made it into Mobile, Alabama yesterday evening. Gaining the extra hour as we crossed into Central time zone motivated me immensely to "just keep swimming, just keep swimming" and we did--500 miles, 8 hours, in one day.


 
What I will remember about Mobile:
-the beautiful I-10 bridge that crosses the Gulf inlet as we approach the city
-the misty haze that hid the city until we were right upon it, and which continued to linger all evening
-and the bread pudding we devoured last night, and that I am still salivating over 12 hours later

Well, I have to up and leave for our drive to New Orleans, see you down on the bayou... xoxo

Happy Leap Year

Hellooooo!! Thank you for all the well wishes in the last post. Excitement has finally been allowed to jump from its cradle, tempered only by long periods of sitting and driving from point A to point B. Point A is the picture below from this morning, my minivan fully loaded, and 265 miles later, we are still wondering where point B will be---Pensacola? Mobile, Alabama ? New Orleans? Right now, thanks to mobile blogging, I am posting this while sitting in a sandwich shop in Tallahassee. What a time we live in yes?
More later with more pics,
'till then friends...
xoxo
p.s. See our rat's tail?
p.s.s. pardon any weirdness, not sure how this mobile post will look (no preview)

Uninvited Adventures

St. Louis airport

Detour: Little Rock airport, thank goodness for Bucky Balls

The bright side...

Though we were delayed 7 hours getting home (4am), I am grateful we have a home to go to.  My heart goes out to the families affected by all the terrible storms that ravaged (and continue to pound) the midwest.  And a great big thank you to the pilots who worked overtime to get us home safely :).

Glad to be back and looking forward to catching up...
much love
xx oo

Postcards II

To the market we go, with my good friend N. keeping an eye out for me.

Beecher's cheese...

The original Starbucks

Puget Sound

...so little time.

Luly Yang

Seattle Downtown Public Library

Gasworks

Thanks N, for this great shot :).

And as if this day wasn't amazing enough, we had the pleasure of meeting Rain and her son from Rainblissed.  So nice to meet and spend time with you Rain!!

Today is our last day, but we have another full day planned.  I won't be back in this space 'till Thursday as we'll be on the plane all day tomorrow.

Bittersweet, endings are... sad to leave but looking forward to catching up on all that's been missed...

much love
xx oo

Postcards

It begins with coffee, because in Seattle, that is how it always begins...

And then comes the rompus...

With friends whom we've have missed...

Dearly missed...

A few walks and my eyes were filled with color. Flowers, gardens, and green everywhere, balking beautifully at any gray that lay overhead...

And then a market, oh, that market, enough to overwhelm all sense of sight, smell, and taste.

The sweetness of donuts made right before your eyes, then salted caramel, fresh fruit, honey, and cider...

Craftings of colorfully knitted and felted nature, as a master clicks away in the corner.

And as I basque in the bursts of brightness everywhere, I then take in the most delicious smell...

Of fresh baked wild caught salmon...I never had salmon that melted away so willingly in my mouth.

Discovered...foraged fiddleheads, among other things found...

I love this place so far, and I have barely tapped in to this city. There is a spirit here that is undeniable. A place that says "I don't care what the sky looks like, I'm here anyway, and I'm thriving. And as if tired of fighting, the clouds eventually break open and say "Okay, you win for now..."

much love
xx oo