The Journey Continues

 I feel like I fell off the planet when I returned to the Bay Area after months of relative freedom. Funny, you might think it would have been the other way around, but I felt more connected and vital while drifting than I do back here in familiar territory. The contrast of time to think and create vs the frenetic pull here that threatens to squeeze the life out of me is palpable. A quiet scream sits deep in my belly reminding that I have  an artist's spirit and a deep connection to this beautiful earth. I need time to honor that in myself. It's no longer a simple desire, but a necessity like air and water. 

Rock City, Mt Diablo

Rocky Mountain High

 My friend Heather

Perfect Day

Memorial Day Hike

Platt River

Evergreen, Colorado

My time in Colorado has been wonderful but far too short. I feel like I just got here. I had a great time playing with the horses and Dixie the Dog and my two new buddies, Indie & Marion, the kitties, but mostly I loved spending time with my girlfriend Heather and her family. From Denver's Natural History Museum to the watching Heather's son Nathaneal ride with the Westerneers, we did it all. Just try to keep up when there's a 12yr old in the bunch. We hit the Denver Zoo, the Aquarium, a graduation party complete with a zip line (OMG - how fun is that??), we rode horses, went to belly dance class twice (it's no accident there aren't any pictures of us dancing) and even went to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (delightful movie)

I feel fortunate to have such amazing and supportive friends. Thank you Heather, Mike and Nathaneal for an unforgettable week.

Savana

Polly

Kasemi

We need more signs like this 

we got in for a sneak preview
of the newly designed
elephant habitat

Up close and personal.
He is magnificent
but I was grateful for
the glass between us

Fearless Team of Explorers

I wanna be a Mermaid...

Really, I do.

Self Portrait
Sleepin With The Fish

J E L L I E S

The Fat Frog Cafe

Dinner with Jessica (my Jenna's bestest friend) was a blast. She and her boyfriend bravely packed up and moved to Colorado last year after graduation, found a great place to live and then found jobs. I've known Jess since she was 3 years old. It's like she's one of my girls and now here we are drinking martinis. 

She took me to a wonderful little cafe called The Fat Frog Cafe in Littleton, CO. They specialize in crepes, both savory and sweet. Our server, Richard, as it turned out, had just that very day become part owner of the place and was beaming. What a wonderful character. He offered us their special mango martinis made with FRESH mango juice. Jeff, the bartender got into the action when Richard asked to see Jessica's ID but not mine. When I told Richard I'd hugged the last person that carded me Jeff called out from behind the bar, "I tried to tell him". The good humored flirting continued from there. The Beatles were playing in the background and I could see the cook singing along. I asked him to turn it up (we were the only customers left). They did. Our food arrived and it was both beautiful and delicious. When Richard offered dessert I had no intention of ordering anything more but when he described the crepe with caramelized bananas flambeed in rum and topped with vanilla ice cream, I didn't hesitate. I don't even like bananas in dessert but this sounded fantastic. I now like bananas in dessert! 

What a great evening.

                                      ...and yes, I hugged Jeff, the bartender, before we left.


If ever you're in the Denver area, be sure to try 

The Fat Frog Cafe. 

I hear they also do a mean breakfast.
http://www.facebook.com/thefatfrog 

Jessica

Mango Martinis made with fresh mango juice - 

DELICIOUS

Portabella Crepe - OMG

Richard - Proud New Owner
Made our evening fun and memorable

Jeff - Bartender
Responsible for the best damn martinis ever

Daniel -  Chef
Sang while he flambeed our amazing
dessert 

I nearly threw myself into this crepe with caramelized
bananas & rum and topped with vanilla ice cream

Daily Om - Singing

Daily Om
http://dailyom.com/

May 25, 2012
The Benefits of Singing
Harmonizing with the Universe
by Madisyn Taylor


The act of singing is one of the easiest ways of raising the vibration of your body as you harmonize with the universe.


Singing is an act of vibration. It takes music from the realm of the unformed-- whether that is in your mind or from that magical space of inspiration--and moves it from within to without. From the first breath singing moves the energy in a circular way inside your body. As the breath fills your lungs, it brushes against the second and third chakras—the centers of creation and honoring self and others. Instead of merely exhaling, pushing the air past the fourth and fifth chakras where heart charka and the center of will and intention reside, singing engages both the heart and mind. Sound vibrations from vocal chords resonate in the sinus cavities, filling the head with motion and sound while the brain lights up with the processing of the mathematics of music. This marriage of activities brings the third eye into play and opens the door for inspiration from the crown chakra before sending the sound out into the world.

Once the vibration begins, it is sustained with each note, moving throughout your body and the space around you. This can help you to harmonize your frequency with the world and with the divine. The use of the voice can bring about catharsis, a cleansing from the expression of emotion, which is why we feel better after singing certain types of songs. All of this occurs even if we are not conscious of what we are singing, but when we really connect with an intention, the power of the voice and music together are powerful tools in creation.

Even if you are not a singer by nature or talent, you are not left out. If you have a voice, it is your birthright to celebrate life with song. It doesn’t matter if you don’t feel you have a nice voice. Chanting or humming, singing solo or with others, your voice is yours to enjoy. Whether you sing along to the radio or use vocalization as part of your meditation time, singing and harmonizing are healing activities that bring your body’s vibrations into alignment with the universe.

Eye on the Storm

Hwy 25 between Santa Fe and Denver is a beautiful drive. To the west the Rocky Mountains begin to take shape. To the east, a flat sea of grass stretching to the horizon. I drove this highway last Monday taking in the dramatic beauty, noting the change from desert reds to lush greens as the miles passed.

Then the sky turned black ahead. The yellow/green of the landscape became brilliant in contrast as the sun still had its way in the west. Off to my left a cylindrical cloud, unlike anything I'd ever seen before rose from behind the mountain up to the rest of the clouds. It was miles around and solid enough to cut with a knife. It began to rain, and then pour and then hale. About the time the hale sounded like it would crack my windshield I passed a group of cars pulled up under an overpass. Then another group of cars and SUVs along side a grove of trees. I didn't know what to do to I just kept driving but I have to admit, I was pretty nervous. The massive cloud seemed closer and darker so I drove a little faster...


I made it to Evergreen, CO in 5 1/2hrs (I must have had a good tail wind). My friend Heather looked at the weather satellite on line. A big swirling storm with a red center covered at least 1/4 of New Mexico and passed right over hwy 25 not long after I was there.

No other cars...

I might get rained on 

Those clouds look different than anything I've ever seen
but I'm from California - what do I know?

coming out the other side

Whew...

Labyrinth

If you've never walked a labyrinth, I invite you to find one and step in. There's no right way, just the peace of walking in grace to the center. I'm no expert on labyrinths (although my friend Jan is) but I've walked several and each one has it's own character. It seems to me its the intention in the walking that is the the grace, the winding in to center wisdom and winding back out to worldly connection that balances the heart and stills the mind.

This labyrinth at Ghost Ranch is my favorite so far. It may have been the vast beauty surrounding me or the wind chimes complementing my steps, but I think it had more to do with the intention with which I walked. The surrendering into my grief, the tears that fell as I placed my painted heart stone in the center with the countless other offerings left by many before me then gently working my way back out into acceptance of where I am, knowing who I am is not the same as my circumstances.

Labyrinth at Ghost Ranch

Self Portrait - Shadow Walk

Starting at the beginning

Labyrinth Music

Sunset Music

(turn your volume up for video)

Ghost Ranch, New Mexico

Ghost Ranch was the home to Georgia O'Keeffe. It has a colorful history complete with old west cattle thieves and is a rich archaeological area. For me it was a place to walk and enjoy solitude. Rugged and peaceful, it offered up serenity deep in my soul. A beautiful labyrinth drew me into a gentle walking meditations winding into it's and my heart center.

Djohariah and I stayed two nights. The accommodations were  rustic but clean and friendly. We shared the canyon with a Bluegrass workshop, a group of potters, another group of painters, several seriously equipped photographers and a bus load of happy elementary school kids on a field trip. License plates included states from coast to coast. Music and laughter filled the air around the buildings, quiet filled the deeper canyons.  I'm already considering how and when to get back there.

Driving & talking 

Chama River

Chama River

Approaching Ghost Ranch

Majestic

Entangled

Tenatious

Sacred

Georgia O'Keeffe's beloved Pedernal

Hiking in Box Canyon

A delightful surprise

Spring in the dessert

Delicate & Strong