Cuba!

 

I have the awesome opportunity to visit Holguin, Cuba for a eight days.  This plan has been in the making for four years.  We apploe for our visa in August 2009.  

I leave tomorrow.  I'll be blogging about the trip when I return on my other blog Letters for Posterity

Until then, Adiós a mis amigos!

US Botanic Garden Washington, DC

I just returned from DC where I visited (with my Mother, Sisters, and some friends) so many sites, I'm having difficulty recalling everything that I took in over our weekend. One of the highlights was the U.S. Botanic Garden, with the Conservatory full of diverse plant life and "rooms" like The Jungle, Children's Garden, World Desert, Southern Exposure, and the Orchid display, it was a vast collection of plants from all types of climates. I found it hard to take it all in, so I snaps some photos of my favorites. I also tried to capture some of beauty of the parks close by. I hope you enjoy this little photo tour.

My Sisters, Mom & I

My twin sister

A Perfect Weekend in Pictures

I hope you had a nice weekend and that the joy extends into your week :)

Ahhh, to sleep at the beach

It's been a year of adult child drama, but I won't go there except to say that our daughter didn't get married as planned. That's not such a bad thing at all. It was a good decision for her, even though she didn't make it. Meanwhile, there was this huge deposit made at the wedding venue and an option to transfer it to the beach house owned by the same property. Soooo, we chose the beach and boy am I glad!

It was a great long weekend in a beatiful (much too big) home. It helped us know that:

1. Our dream home is still cottage-sized not super sized like "The Retreat" where we stayed



2. We want to live closer to the beach some day


3. Sushi tastes better on the beach


4. I feel guilty using a 5-gallon-a-minute-rain-shower-head even on vacation
   
5. We don't really use lights much and so appreciate natural light.


6. Our grand baby is so very happy at the beach
7. Coconut hand soap can enhance your good mood


8. Daytona's City Island Farmers Market has some great deals


9. Angell and Phelps Cafe and Chocolate Factory is a great place to indulge


10. It's REALLY good to get away to the beach!
    

I'm a tree hugger

I've always been a little green - not the color, the attitude. When I was a young mother, I couldn't imagine giving my kids anything unhealthy. I was known for my "honey, molasses, bran, lecithin" type cookies. My family tells me that even the dog wouldn't eat them. I made this attempt too difficult - I planned to plant and can everything we ate. I didn't succeed. Hundreds of pounds of sugar later, my kids are still fine.

Recently, I've begun to simplify my life; cleaning out and giving away, palnning to own just what I need, planning to make the things I own last longer; appreciating what I have. Simplifying was a a natural progression for me since I got my spiritual life in order. I NEED LESS to be happy. I now recycle more and live a life that's more in balance with the world. The more I learn about our overconsumption and how it affects others and the earth we live in, the more intent I am to increase my awareness of our impact on the world.

A recent trip to Maine and the White Mountains of New Hampshire confirmed for me that now I am more and more my true self.

My inspiration today:
The Lord God put the man in the garden of Eden to care for it and work it. - Genesis 2:15

Travel Adventure 2008