A Cottage Designed by Monet.....

This year has started out with the proverbial "bang".

Within the first few days of January, I picked up another wretched cold. I get a lot of those lately. For the past week, I've been sneezing, coughing and blowing my nose until I think a replacement model might be in order.

It's getting better now but this is an extraordinarily long-lasting cold. A few people have mentioned that it's a peculiar one going around and everyone takes a few weeks to get over it.

The cold has given me a lot of time to consider my future residence. I've thought about what I want and where I'd like it to be. Many years ago, when I visited the UK, one of the places we went was Stratford-on-Avon. There were some of the most beautiful cottages there. Cobblestone streets and huge gardens. It wasn't the cottage itself that drew me as much as the gardens that typically surrounded it. Since the place I choose will be my home for a number of years, until I either move to Thailand or die, it really needs to be the right place.

I want a cottage designed by Monet.

Given the unlikelihood of my being able to afford that, I'll settle for a cottage not designed by Monet - but I'd like it to be close. What I know for certain is that I don't want to share my space with another person. I don't want to live in someone else's house. It must be detached, must have a private entrance and must be isolated from the "main house". Living in someone's guest cottage is very appealing but the only time I want to see the owner is on Rent Day. At that, I'd prefer a maildrop. I've lived through this situation so long that I am reluctant to ever try it again.

My geographic range is anywhere between Garberville, California and Crescent City, California. All of those communities, small or large, are either coastal or near the coast. They all have more than 2 inches of rain a year which is about what we're getting in the Central Valley.

It seems important to give all of these things consideration. For so long, I've allowed things to "flow" which in itself isn't bad. It becomes bad though when it means not making choices and going only for speed and convenience. That is how I created the mess I am in now.

So.. if you can spare it, send a positive thought my way. At this point, I'm looking at a February 1st or March 1st launch day.



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Sacred Life Sunday: Remembering the things that make us happy....

Well, this week I decided to blatantly snarf Olivia's idea and post six things that make me happy right now.

Today. At this very moment.

1) I am a freak for a pretty ring. Today, I was out wandering and found a beautiful mystic topaz ring. It was free for all intents and purposes. I had an old ring I no longer like and took it to Abla Jewelers. They made an even trade.

2) My little dog, Shanti, who seems to bring me pleasure each day, no matter what's going on in the outside world. She is a very good natured being who doesn't seem to let anything get to her. She's not demanding or annoying. Ever. She just continues to provide her unconditional love, no matter what I do.

3) Saturn The Chatterbox who has been bravely carting me all over the place, even though there is still some work to be done. I especially admire the fact that she putts on, even knowing that I really want one of these:



4) The declining scale. I am losing weight at a very healthy rate and am beginning to see the shifts and changes in my body shape. It's a good reminder that we do get to choose and we can take action and see positive results. That one took a long time to learn.

5) I'm very grateful for the friends who have come into my life over the past several months, and many who have been around longer, who have a very solid understanding that relationships of all kinds should always include "thank you" and "you're welcome". They understand that giving and getting is a beautiful flow.

6) I am also happy to get a blog acknowledgement from Olivia who passed this award along to me. Those who have read here for a long time know I don't typically deal with awards. However, coming from Olivia, I will because she is one of the most balanced, mindful people I know. And also, for someone who doesn't even know me personally, she has been gracious, kind, generous and always, always a delightful conversationalist. Thank you, Olivia. When will I get to say "you're welcome"? :)

I am going to pass these along to a few people and there is another award I have in mind for others. This one is a really good fit though for these folks :)

Susan at Guilty With An Explanation

Angela at Eclectic Recovery

Angel at Little Pea

Hele at Truth Cycles

Billie at Border Explorer

Maithri at The Soaring Impulse ~ (I don't think Maithri does awards but either way, if you are not visiting this site, you are really missing out on something truly beautiful and uplifting.)



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