Sequoia National Park

Put on the cute purple boots & visit Kaweah River:

Get close to the water at Hospital Rock:

Look up at Moro Rock:

Say hello to General Sherman:

and hug a tree before you leave:

Experiment With Your Life: Part Two

Danny Gregory credits drawing with changing his life and the world around him. He began keeping an illustrated journal following a serious accident many years ago that left his wife permanently injured. The story is chronicled in his book Every Day Matters, and it grew into a website: http://www.dannygregory.com/.

Patti Digh cared for her stepfather following the time he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died 37 days after receiving the diagnosis. 37 Days is cram-packed with inspiration for intentional living.
 
Gretchen Rubin (quite rightly) says: "The days are long, but the years are short."

I am passing this stuff on because some of it has been useful to me. Take what you can use and let the rest go.

Let's Start With a Simple Equation

Seeds + dirt + water + sunshine + time =

purple Pansies!

and Sweet Peas galore!

Mr. Last brings fragrant bouquets into the house

or sometimes we sit outdoors and breathe deeply, trying not to disturb the Dove family:

A hanging pot in which the dead plant was never replaced makes an excellent nest (apparently). About two weeks ago Mr. & Mrs. Dove set up housekeeping right outside our back door. They take turns incubating two little white eggs: he during the day, she at night. Babies should appear any day now. They do not seem to be bothered much by our coming and going or by the presence of the white dog:

Citrus is blooming wildly right now, adding it's sweet fragrance to the air.

Yes.

Living in Eden suits me quite nicely, I think.

Experiment With Your Life: Part One

A year ago I read this book and I started an experiment in conscious living. I set an imaginary last day of my life. Then I tried to live each day as if I would expire on the imaginary death date I had set. 


I'll grant you it is not a very original idea. Tim McGraw even popularized it a while back with his catchy tune "Live Like You Were Dying".


I designed my own experiment because I didn't entirely agree with everything the author proposed.


I can be an independent thinker, sometimes.


So I made plans and I took notes as I practiced life before death.


**FAMILY!!! Do not be alarmed. I was not then, nor am I now, depressed. And while I have very little control ultimately, I fully intend to live long enough to embarrass my greatgrandchildren, or at least enjoy baby food with them. End of parenthetical statement**


Here is what I learned about having a deadline (pun intended): 

• It did NOT motivate me to exercise more, or to become a better homemaker, or to build wealth. I did NOT master a second language, nor did I become more organized or start a part-time business of my own. I originally thought that it might help me with each of these things, and I did make half-hearted movements toward each of these things (well, I thought about doing some of them anyway) but apparently my values lie elsewhere.

• It DID help me behave more thoughtfully. I tried to be response-able and kind. I noticed goodness, and I tried to share my observations with others when it seemed helpful. I wanted desperately to sleep by the ocean and stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon, so I made both of those things happen. I hugged my beloveds and told them "I love you". I listened. I laughed. I planted vegetables and flowers. I made stuff, if not art. 

It was a valuable experiment. I am quite happy with the life I am living.

And I'm not even close to done yet.

Watch for more posts about Experimenting With Your Life.

Hursts in California

O THE INDESCRIBABLE JOY!!!

External Brain

I <3 my Moleskine for capturing important information and random bits. Planner pages:

After searching high and low for a 2-page per week planner, I finally created what works for me. Inspiration came from here. And you should see her blog, too. I do not claim to be an artist, but my Sunday scribbles are good enough to entertain the Grands:

Bits and pieces I cull from all over end up jumbled together:

While the current Moleskine is an adequate capture tool, I am ready to shift to separate and individual skinnier notebooks for specific purposes. I'm thinking Planner in one skinny notebook, Doodles and drawing in another, and a third for Writing exercises and ideas for future blog posts. I'll update you with the new PDW system when I get it up and running.

Sunshine on Monday