HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!!!

Saguaro Christmas Sunset
Originally uploaded by paulgillphoto

Here is wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010.

Merry Christmas!

natural christmas sparkler
Originally uploaded by Gregor Halbwedl

Here is a wish for peace to everyone, everywhere - Merry Christmas!

Dudley on Camelback Mountain

I took Dudley up the Camel this a.m. to get a shot of the sunrise (it was beautiful yesterday, so I thought I would try to get a shot this morning, but it was not so great). Dudley loves to climb and he sailed up the mountain - I had to really work to keep up with him (even with his short little legs). He loved it!

Working at Andre House

I spent last night working at Andre House with fellow ASCPA staffers. We served about 580 meals to the homeless. This is a great place to volunteer - you cook, serve and clean up all in about the span of four hours or so. I think it was a positive experience for everyone. It does make you thankful for what you have.

Happy Halloween!

This is from the cover of a book that my sister made for me of pictures from all my kids past halloween days. It was very cool! Thanks, Sandy!

U2 Concert

Here is a short clip from the U2 Concert I attended this past week. They played with the Black Eyed Peas. The stage was huge and they sounded great. It was quite the production. Sorry about the poor quality of the video - I just used my little still camera on movie mode.

Let Everything Happen to You

I've been listening to some meditation podcasts on iTunes - a great way to relax and sometimes puts me to sleep at night. I love listening to a woman named Tara Branch who leads Buddhist mediation retreats. I found this one particularly inspiring - go here: http://www.imcw.org/audio/TBPodcasts.xml and click on the "Let Everything Happen to You" podcast.

It is very healing an enlightening and a little long, but worth the time. She sites the following poem "God Speaks":

God Speaks

God speaks to each of us as he makes us,

then walks with us silently out of the night.

These are the words we dimly hear:

You, sent out beyond your recall,

go to the limits of your longing.

Embody me.

Flare up like flame

and make big shadows I can move in.

Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.

Just keep going. No feeling is final.

Don't let yourself lose me.

Nearby is the country they call life.

You will know it by its seriousness.

Give me your hand.

- Rainer Maria Rilke


Great stuff! The photo is one I took in Bisbee a few years back.

Rose Bowl and Recent Travels

Lauren finds treasures at the Rose Bowl

Entrance to Rose Bowl Flea Market (every second Sunday of the month)

Me - sailor-less (as usual)

I visited Lauren two weekends ago in Newport Beach where she is completing an internship. We went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market and had a blast. There are tons of treasures there and we were not even able to see the whole thing.

I went back to California last weekend to stay with some friends on Coronado Island. It was a great girls weekend and the weather was so great. It is hard to come back to AZ sometimes.

Cottage Journal Page

I was inspired by my blog friend's photo on her profile (http://cottagebytheseascottsbay.blogspot.com/) and used her cool cottage in Novia Scotia for a journal page for my journaling class. My sketch does not do it justice!

Paul Gill's Photos

Mt. Shasta sunset on Lake Siskiyou
Originally uploaded by paulgillphoto

One of my friends from Scottsdale High, Paul Gill (my honorary bro as we share the same last name), is a fantastic photographer. Here is one of his recent photos from Flickr and I recommend you take a look at his photos on FlickrRiver:

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/paulgill/popular-interesting/

Journal Page in Progress

This is a journal page from my journaling class that I have been taking with my sister. It is not complete yet - I have a poem to add -it's about vampires. I guess True Blood is rubbing off on me. I have also started watching the first season of Six Feet Under on DVD this weekend - hope I don't start painting corpses next!

Almost a "Spankini"

This is for Sandy - I actually wore this outfit in the water to swim today. I had burned my backside from so much snorkeling yesterday. It is almost a "Spankini" - our newest invention for swimsuits for baby boomers! I had to come up with something that covered both my arms and butt - which sticks out of the water a lot when you snorkel. I saw eels, tons of fish and lobster today. We are headed out to lunch and then off to the airport. Can't wait to be in AZ heat again :)

Swimming with the fishies

Nancy and Kelley here feeding the fishes here.

Last night in Caymans

Kelley and I are heading back home tomorrow and Nancy had her friend Laurie come in today for the second shift of guests for her. It was a great trip with nice weather, fantastic snorkeling and lots of fun. We had a wonderful dinner tonight at Calypso Grill. I will get to snorkle and swim one more time tomorrow morning before heading back. Kelley is happy to be getting back to her husband after living the single life for five days. See you all state side soon...

Hanging in the Caymans

I'm the guest of my friend Nancy again in the Cayman Islands. We went to Stingray City today. Will post more pics later when I get home!

Lauren in Cali - Shorter Video

For those who couldn't take the long version - here is just Lauren in California for less than two minutes! Click on arrow to play.

San Francisco Trip Video

This video is from pictures and short videos I took while Lauren and I were in San Franciso this month. Warning - it is 5 minutes long and contains about 45 seconds of just jelly fish - so you may not be patient enough or interested enough to watch it! Also - turn off the music down on the right below so you don't have both going at once!

Back from San Francisco

Lauren and I are back from our San Francisco trip. Here are a few pictures - will post more later.

Woods Canyon Eagles

I went up to my "ex" cabin this weekend with some friends. We took a hike around the end of Woods Canyon Lake and got to see an American Eagle mom and her baby up in a nest. The photo here is not great, but we were able to see them through a scope at an observation point on the lake. The baby was pretty homely looking. The photos are of Kelley, Liz and me hiking at the lake. It was a beautiful, cool day.

More Photoshopping

Here is another photo from yesterday with some lace background photoshopped in - still working on my PS skills.

Sunday Morning

I was messing around with Photoshop this morning. These pretty blue flowers are from my garden. It was such a beautiful cool morning today, particularly for Arizona in June!

My Inspiration for the Day

I came across this wonderful picture of Bette Calman age 83 on the Yoga Journal blog. See article:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1172810/The-yoga-supergran-bend-backwards-age-83.html

So after feeling a bit sore from my yoga workout last night, I thought I had better keep practicing. I mean if she can do this pose in her belt, pearl earrings and nylons, than maybe there is hope for me to improve! What an inspiration...

Art Project

It was my sister 's birthday yesterday (Happy Bday, Sandy!) and we celebrated with lunch and swimming at my house and then we worked on our latest art project. We found these old painted wooden luncheon plates at her antique store and thought we would paint them like the old madonna retablo paintings. I don't think mine turned out exactly like that - my girl looks too modern. Maybe I should have left the plate alone! Oh well, we had fun anyway.

Cool Pool

It was so beautiful out this morning - I can't believe it is supposed to hit 104 degrees today. My mom was here last week and asked that I take some pictures of my pool. So in honor of a wonderfully cool morning- and to share with Mom - here are some pictures of my pool. I promise to be more creative soon!

Lauren's Graduation

Sorry I have been so bad a posting lately - but we've been busy! Here is Lauren at her ASU graduation this Friday night. I will post more pictures of the event, as well as her graduation event with Barack Obama as the commencement speaker.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Here is one of my favorite pictures of my mom on the building site of their house. See you in a bit! Happy Birthday!

Sunrise Trail Hike

Eight gals (Kelley, Kathleen, Ames, Holly, Barbie, Betsy, Nancy and me) from our National Charity League Sustainer group hiked up Sunrise Trailhead today. It was a beautiful day for the hike - 2 miles up and 2 miles back. You can see the Fountain Hills fountain from the top of the trail. I was the one lagging behind to take pictures (at least that is my story.) We all had lunch when we finished.

Lizard Sighting

Went hiking this morning with my friend Heidi up to the saddle on Camelback Mountain. It was a beautiful day! On the way down, I almost put my hand on a big lizard. He didn't seem too worried about me, so I took his photo. It was Heidi's first trip up Camelback and she did great!

Erin Go Bragh!

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.


May the sun shine warm upon your face, And the rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again - may God hold you in the palm of his hand.