News!

I have news to spill!

I will soon be writing:

1. from a newly designed, more stylish blog! The new blog should be way more fun to read. 

The time this will take to fully establish is undetermined, but I'm estimating sometime in September for completion. In the meantime, I'll adapt this already functioning blog to suit the writing I have in mind that will be revolving, in part, around…

2. our upcoming move to Montenegro!!!!! 

The timing on this is approximately one month away. By the end of July, I will be writing from the Balkan region of the world, from this beautiful place called Porto Montenegro. 

The back story on this is a blast, in my view, and I can't wait to tell you more about it. Until then, bear with me and give me mucho feedback so that I can try and incorporate what you say into the new format. 

Here are a couple of pictures found online of Montenegro. You can see its dynamic nature and the contrasts that make the landscape so appealing to the human eye. Is it gorgeous, or what?! 

City of Kotor

Porto Montenegro

I should get a new camera so that I can take vivid photographs, and share them with you, of all the places I intend to go and explore. In fact, if anyone has a camera in mind that is ideally sized for romping around and being active and that also takes crystal clear images (with no professional skills necessary) please send me the info. The idea of taking readers into some of these places I've looked into is so thrilling! I want to share it all!!

Christmas 2013

My Christmas Tree on Christmas morning.
That's Te'a, one of my pooches, waiting on
her Christmas bone.  

I've had my Christmas tree since at least 4th grade, maybe 2nd or 3rd. I remember my mom seeing it in a boutique and falling in love with it. It was on sale and still pricey, but she showed my dad and he agreed that she should have the tree. Now, this is my Christmas tree. I love this tree. Although it sheds and I'm afraid one day it will be bald and then I may have to be clever and redesign the branches with garland, it still looks like a perfectly joyful O'Christmas Tree. There is something whimsical about the shape that scoops from top to bottom rather than poof from top to bottom. 

When I was younger and the science of tree forgery was less sophisticated, it fooled people. One of my friends used to test it year after year, pinching it and joking with my father that she thought it was all a trick and actually alive. We would sit in the floor and she would brush my hair (totally little girlish!) while watching Christmas movies and sipping cocoa with marshmallows. It wouldn't be cold outside- south Georgia only got cold bursts- but we would participate in these holidays as though snowmen could be built if we chose to do so. Her tree was always real and had colored lights and nutcrackers beneath. We would sit in front of her tree watching the same Christmas movies and we'd run into the kitchen to make chocolate chip cookies as soon as we saw the Nestle Toll House commercial of a cookie split in half and chocolate streaming between the pieces like a tightrope between buildings. 

With childhood memories like that, and counting the candy canes my mom would hang from the branches, or studying the gifts beneath it until I could guess what was wrapped, and the many other typical childhood Christmas shenanigans, I can't abandon our/my tree. I can't part with it. Even if another is purchased one day, this tree will have a prime piece of real estate within my home. It totes too many wonderful and magical moments on its limbs; I'd miss it. It has been with me for a long, long time. I don't actually remember the Christmas moments before it. I only know them from photos. 

Anyway, my take on the Christmas Tree: They aren't just another part of a commercialization of a religious observation. The Christmas Tree is sacred because its lights shine in a sleepy, darkened home when a family is full of appreciation and giving... and because they glimmer, as do the eyes of believers bursting with anticipation, gathered around a perfectly Godly centerpiece- a tree. What is more perfect on Earth than a tree? 

I hope for everyone a tree that grants wishes and answers prayers, brings together a giving spirit rooted in love. 

The decoration for our entrance is simple, but still festive. The wreaths are of bay leaves with a metal finish and I fastened a heavy ornament of a glittery deer in the center with a bow. I can put these up earlier, around Thanksgiving, and take them down later, before February. I'm sad about taking the lights down off of anything. They make me happy.

The staircase is spiraled with garland and lights and then I almost throw ribbon on top. I try and do it gently but with enough force to let it stay the way it falls on top of the garland. I like the curls and randomness of the loose ribbon. The red velvet with white edging is a favorite two years running.  

The wreath that hangs is an older twig wreath I grabbed from my decor heap and glued moss covered balls and red, green, and white beaded holly berry ornamentation to so that it could look like Christmas. 
  

My sweet little bird gets used often. I found it as a tree topper and it isn't brilliant as a tree topper because of its weight and awkward coil spring it sits on, so I put it in different versions of nests and this year I stuck some green accent pieces in to give her extra tail feathers. I think she likes them. She looks at them all the time. ;)wink

The snow flake is a huge ornament that wouldn't stand out many places and I like that it is simple and small and not over bearing for my bird.

Ta da. On Christmas Eve we had family over for cheesecake and other sweet things like chocolate truffles and berries with fresh whipped cream. We had cheese (mostly brie) and truffle honey from Umbria and Chianti. Simple. Many laughs + Monopoly and we could say it was a casual and fun night. My sister-in-law waxed us all. She was a sneaky monopolizer.

Christmas morning, Selma Lu had the 411 on her stocking and that she could finally get inside of it. She stared at it all morning. She guarded it, stood by, sat fixated, pancaked with puppy eyes. She did it all, and the biggest prize of all was a ball dressed like a cow. It was her favorite by far. Te'a loved her stuffed bunny... and Selma's cow ball which wasn't popular with Selma. She doesn't like to share Selma's toys with her. She collects them on her dog bed, carries them around and hugs them. Seriously.  China snuggled in her new blankets. She's a pro snuggler. The absolute best. Needless to conclude for you- It was a successful Christmas for these three dogs.

I threw these pretty artificial pomegranates and flowers with a wildlife accent in a pewter vase along with a large fir twig, tied it with a burlap bow and that was that. The most ridiculous center piece arrangement ever. I have this burlap runner my mom made me. There is blanket stitching along the edges and I love the blanket stitch. I topped that with a strip of green moss and some glitter garland that drives everybody but me nuts. There are river rocks and mercury glass votive holders scattered around on top of the runners. Also shown: a rogue red decoration from the mantle and the salt and pepper shakers and parmesan container I didn't put away. oops. Oh well. I wasn't going for perfection.

Now the sad part. I have to de-Christmas tree!

I wrap each ornament and decoration separately and to do that this year, I compromised the use of the breakfast table. I sorted them by theme, because I'm partially insane, and grouped the birds together, Santas, snowmen, reindeer, balls, snowflakes, stars, dogs and wooded creatures, safari wildlife refugees, uncategorized favorites, Christmas trees, fillers, garland, ribbon. That is the gist. 

On the right is my Christmas tree down to lights and topper. The cardinal at the top is a new addition and I think it will remain atop this tree 'foreveh'. She's perfect!

China is the only pup not shown sneaking in a shot, so this is 'just because'. I love her. 

She got that dog bed last year. Isn't she so dainty?

Last year's version of tree and mantle. It was more Dr. Suess. The tree is a bit crooked because I put it up by myself and I topped it with a giant gold and green polka dot, sparkled 'C'. 

The mantle last year had the curling ribbons I put on the stairs this year and the wreath as well. I like the center. It's a big twig and moss butterfly. 

It was a giggly Christmas theme last year. This year, more subdued, more texture than color. 

Zur - ich - ola... is that such a lame title? I'm too sleepy to care.

I sat down to do some work while I had a second and promptly got back up. 

The darn television was distracting me. Nick, before leaving to work out, had the channel tuned to The Golf Channel. That's no shocker. Showing was a tournament, The John Deer Classic, and our friend Troy was leading. (Note: As a golfer's wife I say 'was' and not 'is' out of habit, and fear of the jinx, and recognition of the nature of the sport, where leads bounce about... but with hope his lead will continue through Sunday evening.) Even though I loved seeing Troy do so well, I had to change it for a while because the speculation of what's in the golfer's mind and all the hypothetically speaking and predictions that mean squat irritate me when I've got my own thoughts to deal with. (Seriously though!! It's week after week. Can we all agree that Tiger Woods is back in the game?! How many times does he have to win to qualify for the same privilege of being a contender as another player? If I were in the field I would never consider Tiger out of the hunt. But, then, I'm not sure these guys are thinking about other players' games while they manage their own. That's the very psychology that loses. Winners focus on their own momentum.) Anyway... the channel I turned to was no peachy pick either. I sat down in my chair and in one sentence I heard 4 "like"s and one "literally" that was oh-so not literal. In one limited space of a sentence! The "uhms" are not counted. This was also coming from a grown man. I almost got dizzy.

Now I am listening to Zen music. I'm getting back to my basics. Zen or singer/songwriter music, Nag Champa burning, dogs scattered randomly on soft spots, books, maps, dark art, little collections of precious items, birds within view on a tree limb. It feels cozy again.

I am directed to write more of the travels and so- I will oblige. It is no chore at all!

I'll take it Como and back up.
It made a lasting first impression, Zurich. I was smitten, immediately. 

I've told about my perspective as we flew in, landed and entered the hotel, leading me to that wonderfully cobalt blue lacquer door. Sliding the key and twisting felt romantic. No card swipe, just a civilized, exercised twist of the wrist. A gentle push- the door graciously gave way, feeling as old and solid as I hoped everything I encountered would feel during this European adventure. I had the internal confusion of a tired body and a curious spirit. Everyone knows which wins. I tucked my bags away and grabbed the dress that was rolled up and stowed in a convenient spot for this predictable occassion. I changed and while doing so enjoyed the room's wooden floor, the details on the walls, the view out of our window, a window that stayed open and welcomed fresh, tingly air inside to charm our senses, and I enjoyed the modern bathroom detailed to a woman's desires. I remember looking in the mirror and smiling. I realized even then how strange this appeared from a third party's point of view. But, it was all surreal and I felt as I did on my wedding day, in my body and above my body. Watching and feeling the events through my eyes and also through the eyes of my wiser, eternal self- the one that allows me to be proud of me, the one that loves me as purely as a mother loves a child- I was in and around the space and time I lived. This must be why I connected with Zurich so intensely. Vibrationally, my energy and its energy were in sync. It was a seamless entrance to a foreign land, but familiar place. I smiled at myself in the mirror because I was happy about everything. I had no criticism and I was engaged completely in the now. Euphoria. 

When I came out of the ladies' room (because it was- it was built for a lady), I saw Nick, feet planted on the floor, dressed, seemingly ready to hit the streets, except he was bent at the knee and completely laid flat on the bed. I had to do some tickling, some nose pinching and air restricting, but not too much. He was on board with my desire to discover this city. Let me see!!! I felt like childhood waited outside only better- this is the content of childhood's dreams of adulthood.

It only took a glance left from the hotel's entrance onto the sidewalk to make site seeing worth it. The lake and the landscape looked pristine. I knew what I would find here. Purity and beauty. The natural, unfaltered, unfiltered way. We strolled about three blocks, I took a photograph with a flower my height, we debated whether or not the business gentleman crossing the street was smoking a self-rolled cigarette or a joint, and we too crossed the street to the opposite direction, joining in on the Swiss civilization. Nick suggested we find a spot with street side seating and enjoy a cappucino and chocolate treat. Did I mention he is a dreamy man? He has brought me to Switzerland and suggests that not only should we admire the swan filled lake and majestic Alps, but he wants to prompt our fondue dinner with a cappuccino and chocolate prelude. Oh my delicious life!! So, we do this. We see the red and white striped awnings and watch the business day scuffle, the bikers, the ice cream licking skinnies happily go about their routine. We briefly shared our bench with a resident that tried to take a photo of us using my iphone but had zero idea what I was asking her to do- we smiled a lot at one another though. As we bit into the truffle we both froze and stared at one another, mumbling with mouthfuls of chocolate about how glorious this tiny dollup of perfection tasted. I think Nick's eyes rolled back in his head, if I can recall, mine were entranced and cobra-struck. Our cappuccinos were just right and this was the very first of them and so, the leap across the Atlantic is a fair measure between this coffee and the one before it. We studied the people and movement on the streets for only a little while, we had such a short time to spend here, there was no time to waste, even on dessert. 

Walking those cobblestones was significant in my life. I had committed to diving deep into the territory of experience. Guarding my emotions was left off the agenda. Every window seat I saw, I attached a book and reader to in my imagination. For every store owner who situated their sidewalk stands, I created a history of neighborhood relationships. I saw halos around the swans gliding on crystal water. I saw beams of white and golden light streaking upward across the sky from the mountain tops. The grass was vividly green and textured, but soft and plush, inviting us for a nap on a park lawn. The statues seemed hopeful, beautiful. The homes seemed movie set worthy. The people radiated with happiness and pleasure, undirected by ordering entities. The children wore tights and skirts with converse shoes and braided pig tails, which enhanced their innocence as they snacked on self-chosen fruit from bins on the street market, backpack slouched on the ground. How lucky these kids are, I kept thinking. I'd like, if I have a child, to be able to give them this- pure food, pure air, pure water and abounding mutual respect of culture and nature. When I looked at flowers, smelled the aromas drifting out of restaurants, or watched kids play ball at the foot of huge cathedral steps I felt more alive from it. Within the first twenty minutes of our weaving walk through alley ways, I heard the tower bells toll and immediately sprung tears, vision of my feet on the big gray stones was fuzzy, and I had to steady my breath. I felt alive. I didn't want to leave. It was as if I was seeing in color and dimension what was previously seen as two toned and flat. 

I could go on about my feelings of this place. The details are in my head, the connection in my heart. I will never forget this encounter with Zurich.

We found a restaurant in a great scene and sat outside. I order red wine. Nick ordered beer. We ordered a dish each and shared fondue. I watched a woman peer out her window to see what was happening below for a while. It was like a modern day scene out of Chocolat. The dog who claimed this plaza as home meandered about and lazily relaxed, while keeping a watchful eye of all around him. He made rounds to say hello to each store owner, peeking in the door to receive a pet on the head, coming over to our restaurant's doorman to gather acknowledgement. This man told us this is his home. He adopted the square. As we dined, a taxi pulled up to deliver a human or two. Nice taxi. 

Once, during the meal, I looked to my right, something had caught my attention. It was two red balloons, staggered and slowly creeping by me just as I had seen them in a dream I had on the flight over. Two bright red balloons set against a grey stone backdrop. Here they were. My bright red validation. Fully capable of floating higher, higher, higher - soaring, only remaining on earth because of being tethered to a human body. "Nick, Nick, the balloons from my dream I told you about..." I pointed to them with my head tilt. He nodded. He is accustomed to making sense of what makes sense in my head.

With full tummies and full realization that we were both profoundly in awe of 'our new city' we continued our exploration in leisure, crossing bridges and studying architecture and a vehicle here and there. We climbed stairways and found a park above the city. A gigantic game of people-sized chess was being played by neighbors. A bird was showing off his fountain drinking acrobatics. Music from a lake side concert and bells from the city's towers kept the park visitors quiet and serene. When we peeled away from the park, we headed back toward our hotel on the other side of the water, and walked past after hours cocktail gatherings by men and women dressed in professional wear, laughing and talking over the live indoor music. The bike riders and walkers looked like a melting pot of people, pretty in their distinctiveness. Although we weren't ready, we retired to our hotel room. I had one more thing to do before bed. Nick handed me the key to the rooftop, a ladies only space on top of the spa. I climbed the stairs to the skylight and James Bonded the button to open it. I get nada thrills about ladies only and mens only shinanigans. I really don't care about them at all. I don't care if people dig it, but I don't get a kick out of it. I would have rather had Nick with me on the rooftop. It obviously had nothing to do with men not being able to see women in spa attire- every other rooftop and window had view of this rooftop. I think it was just what most people hope to achieve with exclusivity - desire and demand. Do you know how much I thought about that topic while on the roof? A seconds worth. I was watching a moon situate itself in the night sky above the Swiss Alps that towered over the pristine Lake Zurich. I took about 15 photos of myslef, trying to get an accurate version on what I saw with proof of me being there in the shot. I got proof of me- that's for sure. I did not get the accuracy of the evening. Impossible. Impossible for a professional on a mission. That's the perk of travel. To be there is different than a photo. Some people enjoy that view nightly. I saw them. They were on personal balconies, typing on laptops at desks by a window. It was hard not to peak at people's lives. I was interested. Guilty of the window peak. Nothing naughty in any glimpse.

Day 2 in Zurich was remarkable as well. I yodeled just for the hell of it out of our hotel window. I sang a wee bit from the Sound of Music, even though it was set in Austria, I felt obliged to the Alps. And I ran to the edge of the lake and yelled "Ric - co - la" with all my might. I looked back at Nick and the local lady watching me and decided that I could nix immitating a big horn honk. Those are key memories, no shame. When I call to Nick in the house, I often yell "Ni - cho - las" so it was a must-do. I mean, WHO could resist that temptation?

Speaking of Nicholas and resisiting temptation... Nick is asleep in bed and I'm up still, sitting here, writing. Meanwhile, my eyelids are drooping. 

Signing off. Cassini out. Sweet dreams.

Door to Wonderland

Just before I pounced on him to get my way!

Hitting the streets. Met a fantastic flower.

One of each, please.

First cappuccino of the trip. 

This was the most intensely glorious bite of our lives.

We were SO happy here. Just being in Zurich.

Watching the people walk by the water.

So romantic.

My love.

Me

Very friendly swans

    

I think Zurich is named after this guy portrayed in the statue.  

One of the pretty towers.

lake side waltz for Nicholas, ooh la la

getting us both in the shot :)

Vibrant flowers for sale

Markets

Lots of pictures of streets, alleys, and doors.

Mutual love

Their version of vandizing property.

Taxi

Fondue

Coolio

I want to jump in the water.

Water fountain for drinking

Wanting to perch here permanently

You and me, babe.

Birdie Slurping Exhibit

Giant chess game

Should I take the stairs?

Cuckoo clock

Whaaaa? Is that what I think it is?

Yes, it IS!!

Showing my affection for the confection

chocolate gremlin

Was this on purpose?

Every single view was spectacular to me.

Heading to the rooftop

It was impossible to capture the definition of the landscape, but I couold see the Alps over the Lake, Fountains, Bell Towers, Cathedrals, Beautiful Buildings and dinners on balconies. It was really great to be up there breathing the fresh air and appreciating the city.