Tuesday, December 25, 2012

May your days be merry and bright!

Merry Christmas from the northern hemisphere. Thought I'd share a little illustration that I did while on the move. It was inspired by my little 2 year old who became a real snow bunny up in Oregon. Much love to you and yours!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Silence of Snow and Tenacity of Trees

413
119
34
23
295
712...

....these are numbers of the rooms, cabins, apartments we have occupied in the last six days. So many sights, sounds, tastes have washed over my senses - it will take months to digest. But then that is why one travels - to stock up on inspiring memories for the months of routine, daily living that awaits the traveller at home. While I'm writing this, I can hear a San Francisco streetcar rumbling past down on Powell Street. It is a quiet night. And it is in these small moments that memories are made.

Our road trip is epic. I have experienced what feels like 3 months in only six days. And we have a couple more to go. I have learnt how, silently, softly and persistently, snowflakes can transform their environment into beautiful sculptural shapes that reflect light.

I have seen how giant redwoods become hosts for the growth of new "sky" trees right on their time-worn branches. The old ones providing direct nourishment from these branches so that it isn't necessary for the new ones to take root in the earth.

There is much wisdom to be taken from trees and from snowflakes...
I am silent and deeply grateful.





Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Resurfacing in Oregon

The Official Oregon Coast Visitor Guide

I've been under the radar.....now I'm resurfacing after a blogging hiatus of several months as l.i.f.e. washed over me like one of those very large, very foamy breakers that make Hawaiian surfers go gaga! I always seem to have so much more to say when I'm on the move and exploring new territories. This is when I feel most alive.

 So this is where I'm at. Portland, Oregon. One of those very creative, very innovative, very crafty, very green places on the planet, where volunteering for community projects seem to have overtaken social media as a preferred approach to networking. Seriously - we need more communities like Portland on this planet. Also, this is what winter should be like - lots of rain, snow slopes within easy reach, log fires, apple cider, lattes and hot chocolate.  I now understand why art journalling has so many followers in the Pacific Northwest.  The weather is conducive to the expression of internal landscapes.

So today we're starting a week long road trip of Oregon and the West Coast.  All the way down to San Diego in sunny California. There is about 2000km between us an our final destination right now - 2000km glistening with sights my eyes have never seen. What bliss!  I am so grateful. We are accompanied by two great American writers - Jack Kerouac's book, "The Lonesome Traveller" and "Travels with Charley" by John Steinbeck. Today we're off to the Mount Hood Ski Area so watch this space for an update!