 Quick, catch up post-  How's your weekend going? I've been waiting for this one. No appointments scheduled and no work, just time to chill. #BIGWIN One of my goals for 2018 was to get back into a regular exercise routine and also carve more downtime out for myself. Running two full-time businesses keeps me very busy, but I have hired more folks to help me and I can finally start to relax again. The weekends are MINE! lol Don't get me wrong I did take off some in 2017, and I even managed to exercise and loose some weight. But everything was based on when I could find time, and that was not as often as it should have been. So Saturday I was up early for yoga, meditation and to enjoy the fiery sunrise. One thing about living in the southwest is the sky, it's rare to see the sunrise or sunset without being moved. It's usually very dramatic and will inspire you, (as it has done for countless artists), to be more creative. If you really take the time to be present, it will also foster an appreciation for nature and our place in it, too.  The sky looked like it was on fire Saturday morning. One of my friends in Paris sent me a picture this morning of his sunrise in comparison, I'm not gonna post it (because it's not mine) and because it was a dull, gray, overcast day complete with drizzle. Don't get me wrong I love Paris, and I also love rainy weather, *which I miss here. So it's a trade off. But I feel truly blessed to enjoy the best of both world. (Read between the lines: I will be returning to Europe soon.)  It was cold this a.m. but I braved it to snap these pictures.  So other than sunrise yoga, my weekend goals are to climb into my new books and practice the art of siestas, lol.  I'm reading the Bloody Baron now. This is the second and third book in the Anno series. I wrote a review here and told you how much I liked this authors writing style, yeah? Well, when I find an author I really like I proceed to buy everything in their catalogue, so far I'm three in and he hasn't disappointed.
I'll do a proper book review next week, but so far I'm enjoying the book and looking forward to reading more in the series. Now I'm off for a coffee with a friend in ABQ. I hope you are enjoying your weekend and find time to watch the sunrise/sunset. Speak soon- Bonjour! How is your long weekend progressing? I am working hard to delete all the old, never finished posts here on the website. (I keep finding more and more. Do I ever write anything? WTF?) I probably should have deleted this one as well, but I have been missing life in France so much lately that when I found this I knew I had to finish it. So lets return to the idyllic south of France. Where the food is fresh, the people are chill and time moves at an entirely different pace.  I suspect these pictures were taken with my older iphone. This was late September, 2014.  If we are to believe the date stamp on this...This was probably taken with my cannon before it crapped out.  Ahh tea and fresh food from the bakery, this is a true French life!  I have no idea why I took a picture of the sink?  Or the tile?  My older Mac took its last breath during our 3 months here. Luckily the flat came with its own PC. I just had to relearn how to operate it. #Fail  This was our 1st day...the move in day, as it was. The place is simple, clean and efficient. It always makes me consider why the Hell we insist on purchasing so much crap at home, you know? Do we really need so much? And couldn't that money be put to better use, like say living in France? Lol  The garden...we were there as the seasons changed. It was breathtaking watching the trees change day by day on the mountains.  (This must have been the 1st day too, lol)  I brought tea and some necessities, but mostly we ate and shopped locally. Okay, I will admit I did have a couple of Amazon orders delivered while we were there, but you know, mostly we shopped locally.   People in the USA ask me often if the food is as good as people say it is in France.  It is actually better.  Even simple treats are delicious!  I think the food is so good because it isn't rushed. The French do not rush preparing it and you are not expected to rush to eat it and race back to work. You are expected to take your time, slow down and enjoy eating, meeting up with friends or just sitting outside at the cafe. People watching and reading at outdoor cafes is an art form in France.  My God I'm so hungry looking at this picture!  But really life moves to a different rhythm.   I admit that the tap water in our flat tastes like Evian! I bought a bottle to see if it tasted differently there. It might somewhat, but overall no...it's the same.  Roaming around the village.   Local castle...It is a family owned restaurant and small hotel. It is a destination for weddings and other events. People are surprised when they turn up for their events and find that the Rugby pitch is in the front garden, lol. But such is life... The weather was perfect until right before we left. Three months of cool nights and warm days were irrupted by flash flooding and heavy winds as massive storms moved in. But all in all it was a great 3 months!  I love being in the mountains.  We rode the train about a bit and explored other villages over the course of this visit. And of course we always go to Paris, when in France. It's a rule, lol   (French trains)  Not unlike riding in the UK, but also not exactly the same...the French trains are much faster and newer!  Okay I am gonna go price flights to Paris now. sob, sob See you at (the French) airport-
 It's been awhile since we visited Rumi. For those that don't know him yet, Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī more popularly simply as Rumi, was born September 30, 1207 and left this place on December 17, 1273. He was so many things including a poet, a scholar, theologian and a Sufi Mystic. Wiki says: "Rumi's influence transcends national borders and ethnic divisions: Iranians, Tajiks, Turks, Greeks, Pashtuns, other Central Asian Muslims, and the Muslims of South Asia have greatly appreciated his spiritual legacy for the past seven centuries.[10] His poems have been widely translated into many of the world's languages and transposed into various formats. Rumi has been described as the "most popular poet"[11] and the "best selling poet" in the United States." Read more on wiki. If you have not read any of his poems (what cave are you living in?) rush out now to buy a book or order from Amazon. Until it arrives you can read my Rumi tag for more uplifting, joyous and delicious Rumi poems.  "Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life's search for love and wisdom." Rumi    "Love will find its way through all languages on its own." - Rumi "Beauty surrounds us, but usually we need to be walking in a garden to know it." Rumi Enjoy your day!  So how do you know Spring has (almost) arrived? I'm hearing new song birds, or else the local birds are learning new tunes and the trees are flowering. I think you can hear the birds in my super short video.  Super over achiever tree!  Dramatic blue sky was also cooperating today!   I think Spring is on the way!  Relax, It's not Thanksgiving in America yet. Good Afternoon! I’ve been MIA again, but before I give you another lame excuse, know that I was thinking about you dear reader. Because I truly was, I haven't had time to blog, but I was thinking about you. Mostly I've been wondering why you keep coming back? Why you care about my silly little blog and what the HELL I should write about. So after much thinking, and hardly any writing, I think it's time for a Thankfulness Challenge again. You remember, like we did in the good old days? I found a 30 day (Goodness!) Challenge while I was googling *err, I mean Working* today and thought I would give it a try….and because I really am a dedicated hard, working blogger I will even filled in the parts I missed. So are you ready for a thought provoking, funny and hopefully interesting look at gratitude and thankfulness? Lets dive in!  Day 1 challenge: List something about you, personally: Hmm, I think the thing I am most grateful for is my ability to learn. I have had so many opportunities and adventures because I was able to learn new skills. I don’t think I am terribly smart, (don't get me wrong, I'm not stupid, even if I can't spell!) But I am able to learn things quickly. This was an asset in every job/career I have pursued and I am grateful for this ability.  Day 2: Something about you - physically your grateful for: Hmmm, I’m grateful for my body. I may not look like a swimsuit model, but I love the fact that I healthy. I love my body! It took me years to appreciate it, but now I marvel at it everyday! My body is my best friend and I try to take care of it and in turn we do amazing things! I am so grateful for my health and my body!  Day 3: Your significant other or best friend: Hmmm, I have a lot of really good friends. People that have been through the ups and downs of life with me and I am grateful for every single one of them. And it would be easy for me to stop at that, but in the spirit of being "real" with you, I will be honest. For those that don't know, I married a lovely man whom I thought was my best friend. Currently, as I write this, I am in the middle of a divorce! But I can say I am grateful for the lessons it taught me. I have loved deeply and will again, I know this and am grateful. It was not an easy experience but it was worthwhile in learning how much I could love, what I could endure and how much of myself I would give up for another person. It taught me many, many lessons and I am grateful for the experience.  Hmm this isn't as fun as I thought it would be, wtf?! This is more like freaking therapy! I swear when I went through the questions it sounded more entertaining. What do you think? Should we press on or stop this? Let's do one more today, maybe they get better....  Day 4: Your Children: Also really personal, OMG! As you know I don't talk much about my family here...but in the spirit of sharing I will.  My son! I am so proud of my son and all he has achieved! I love him so much and am grateful every day for him. He was a good boy who grew into a good man. He is starting a new road in his life; taking college classes, adjusting to being back in the states and being an “official adult”. Our recent move and the divorce hurt him too, but his humor and steadfastness never wavered. He stuck to his plan and is moving forward. I know I am truly blessed to have him in my life and am grateful everyday for him! Okay that was 4 days of sharing my person life and gratitude. I'm sure it only gets better from here!
I will finish the challenge out and attempt to sort the 1,000's of pictures I have of my recent trips so I can get back to travel posting, yeah? Catch you later- |
Author Welcome to my travel blog, my healthy Vegan lifestyle blog and my life! It's a lot, but it's my passions and I just love to write about it. Here I share tips, stories and photos from my adventures and life. This is the place where people can find daily inspiration to travel and motivation to live healthier lives and laugh a bit too! 
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