At the Rialto

I recently participated in a Christmas music program at the Rialto Theater in Joliet, Illinois. The Rialto has a rich history of performances over the past century. The marble lobby and beautiful chandeliers transport one back in time to a more elegant age.

And then there is the pipe organ!

This magnificent instrument once provided the musical background for silent movies. Today, it is still providing wonderful entertainment. I think of it as  Liberace meets a cathedral. Like so many other of the old theater organs, this organ is situated on a platform that will rise up from beneath the stage and then be lowered back down out of sight after a performance. Very...um...theatrical.

The Rialto is a joy!

When Antonio intersects Banderas

Not too long ago, I was in Orange County and driving up Antonio Parkway.

It was a beautiful sunny day in Southern California (of course) and I passed many streets. Then I came to Banderas.

Yes, I was at the intersection of Antonio and Banderas! It looked like this:

But who says that it couldn't look like this?

Yes, we are always traveling through interesections. We can choose to see them just as another red light or we can choose to see them as astounding opportunities.

Every day we intersect with people....with places......with thoughts......with opportunities.

I really enjoy savoring my daily intersections (or connections). I see joy-filled living as intentional connection to the opportunities of each day. It has been my experience that being open to the possibilities of each encounter - of each intersection - results in all kinds of interesting experiences. And fascinating stories. And amazing people.  And maybe even an actor or two.....

So, at your next intersection, ask yourself: "Is this just a traffic light?  Or is it something much more!"

Bear Spray Deposit

As I was entering the Cody/Yellowstone airport the other day, I saw a large wooden box. I found the words printed on the side of this box to be unusual….”BEAR SPRAY DEPOSIT”.  I’ve been fortunate to enter many airports in my day, but was the first time that I saw a Bear Spray Deposit Box.

Bears are serious business in the Yellowstone area. There are places outside of Cody where parents wait with their children at school bus stops to protect them from grizzlies. In fact, the playground at the Wapati elementary school is surrounded by a 10 foot heavily wired fence. I’ve seen prison yards with less fencing. However, in this case, the fence is not to keep the children from escaping but to provide protection from the grizzlies.

So if one is roaming the mountainsides of Yellowstone country, carrying a can of bear spray makes sense. However, the FAA is there to remind folks that there are no grizzles allowed on passenger planes and therefore, carrying bear spray is no longer necessary.

The Bear Spray Deposit Box was a reminder of another question that I will ask myself….”What do I need to discard?”  This is not my favorite question. You see, I really like to hold on to things. Lots of things. Many way past their expiration dates. Way past their usefulness. This applies to both things and to thoughts.

I have been systematically going through my house and tossing or donating things that I no longer need (or maybe never did need). This includes clothes, extra bicycles, craft supplies, obsolete electronics. Lots of stuff. As I have reduced the clutter of my physical surroundings, I have noticed that it has been easier to relax in my home. What a concept!

I have also been on a journey to discard old thoughts that are no longer necessary (and maybe never were necessary). Thoughts like “I am not good enough” and “What will people think?” These thoughts are as useful as bear spray in my Chicago suburb. Discarding such thoughts has made it easier to relax in myself. An even better concept!

So, my Faithful Readers, I invite you to see what things and thoughts you might discard. I invite you to ditch the bear spray.

Quilting in Cody

Each day I ask myself: "Am I creatively involved?"

I thrive best when I am creative. That's just the way it is. I experience joy in quilting. I love the creative process of design saturated in color. And the end product is useful. How cool is that!

Last weekend I attended a Quilting Retreat in Cody, Wyoming. This retreat was hosted by Vicki Mollett, owner of Friends & Company Quilt Shop. Eighteen avid quilters spent the weekend in a banquet room at The Cody, a lovely hotel. We set up our sewing machines and cut fabric, stitched miles of seams and produced all sorts of bed quilts, table runners, handbags and wall hangings. It was such a fun and relaxing time of sewing, snacking and great conversation. Yep - there' was a whole bunch of creativity going on.

I like to stock up on fabric at the Friends & Company Quilt Shop, my favorite quilt shop. It's located in Cody, Wyoming. Vicki does a super job stocking the store with a vast array of fabric - from batiks to western designs and everything in between. I stand along side a row of bolts of fabric and lose myself in a rush of creative possibilities.Vicki has created a gracious and hospitable environment - one enters the shop as a customer and leaves as a friend. It is well worth a visit. Check it out at www.friendsandco.net  

Friends and Company Quilt Shop in Cody, Wyoming

The shop is well lit with an incredible variety of fabric and goods.

There is an outstanding batik section.



Vicki Mollett



Marquerite showing our work during the retreat's Saturday night Show and Tell.

Sewing at retreat.

By the Greybull River

There’s a question that I ask myself every morning – “Do I feel refreshed and rested?”  This is how I ascertain if I am allowing enough time for sleep and to determine if there are lurking stressful thoughts that are diminishing my rest.

Sleep is a critical step in the regeneration of energy, but I also take energy “refreshment breaks” throughout the day. One of my favorite refreshment break is to take short walks in the morning where I can feast my senses on the natural surroundings. 

This past Monday morning I took my two Westie buddies, Duffy and Angus, on a walk by the Greybull River in Greybull, Wyoming. I love the golden leaves, the flowing water, the sun just about to peak over the rock bluff on the other side of the river, the voices of the elementary school children in the playground prior to the start of their school day, the whistle of the nearby trains, the feel of a slight breeze indicating the start of a fine autumn day.

Ahhh…. A deep breath of gratitude and joy…… Refreshed!

 

Looking north along the Greybull River. The Big Horn Mountains are in the distance.

Looking south by the river walk.

Duffy and Angus

End of Refreshment Break. Time for naps.

 

Peaceful September Morning at Glen Lake

It's another beautiful morning at Glen Lake. As I took my morning walk, I decided not to plug into my iPod but to listen to the stillness of the post Labor Day morning. After Labor Day the crowds thin out Up North. But while there are less people, there are still many others to share the morning with me. I heard the rustle of the leaves as they conversed with the mild southwest wind. I heard from up in the woods the caw-caw of the crows. The ducks quacked and the Canada geese honked. There was even a distant plaintive cry of the lone gull. My favorite was the clicking chirp of the kingfisher. The rising sun was warming the land. Pure peace!

View of Glen Lake with Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes at the west end of the lake. Taken from the Narrows Bridge on 091612. In the foreground on the left are remaining pilings from one of the earlier bridges.

I believe that Jacksonville is my favorite city in Florida. It has lots to offer and it's where my cousin Heather lives.  Last night, I was in town so Heather and I had a lovely dinner at The Public Landing at a steak and seafood restaurant. Our table was by the window overlooking the St. Johns River. As we munched, a pod of dolphins swam by and put on a show. Later on as we strolled the river walkway, they swam by us again. Pure magical joy!

Main Street Bridge from Public Landing. (Dolphins were camera shy and swam by later.)



Main Street Bridge to the left and fountain on other side of river. This really is a cool place to river and this photo does not begin to do it justice.



We also strolled by a luxury yacht which is presumably belongs to the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was tied up right by the river walk so we naturally gawked with all of the other passerbys. It was over the top complete with spiral staircase - really?!  Photo taken from parking lot.

A Beautiful Day sparks Imagining

Yesterday as I visited more of San Diego, I found myself taking opportunities to do some imagining....

As I gazed toward the pier at Pacific Beach in San Diego, I imagined staying in one of the cottage type motel rooms located on the actual pier.

I imagined ways to infuse more color into my life and those lives around me.

This is the Presidio, a Spanish mission fort that was built on the hill overlooking the mouth of the San Diego River. The original building has long since crumbled, but I imagined what it would be like for an European to travel here with the expectation of never seeing one's homeland again.



This is the view from the Presidio overlooking the San Diego River as it meets the Pacific. I imagined how this view would have appeared 200 years ago bereft of most trees and freeways and buildings. Just wind and silence.

At the band concert in the park on Coronado Island, I imagined living in such a relaxing state all of the time.

Back in 1993, I would have never imagined that my group of high school friends would meet each year for a weekend for 20 years in a row. Here are some of us posing on the Pacific Beach Pier. What a joy to be blessed with such friends. Now I imagine another 20 years of Big Chill Weekends and that brings me joy.

Paragliding and Updrafts

Yesterday I spent a delightful morning watching paragliding off the cliffs just south of the Torrey Pines Golf Club in La Jolla, California. The sky was overcast with the marine layer (looks like high level fog) that I'm told is prevalent this time of year. The updrafts off these cliffs make it a perfect venue for gliding. It was so peaceful. One can sit on benches by a food stand and watch the paragliding. Here as in most places in southern California it seems, there was a 3 person band of guys of a certain age playing the 60's classics. And they were very good. There was also a trail that led down the cliffs to the public beach below. It was idyllic.

I sat there wondering what it would be like to strap on the harness, don the helmet, and essentially walk off the edge of the cliff and let just the breeze support you. There was no doubt in my mind that each of these paragliders was fully engaged in the process and totally loving it. The updrafts supported them and they soared.

It got me thinking about the different kinds of support that I receive as I sail through my life - God, family, friends - and for their support, I am blessed and deeply grateful. These are my updrafts.

Maybe someday I'll take up paragliding but in the meantime I plan to joyfully sail through each day that I am given.

The Joy of Roses and Dreams

This weekend I am visiting out in San Diego with my high school friends. We get together for a weekend each year, We must like it because we've been doing this for 20 years. We call it our Big Chill weekends.


I was taking my early morning walk and because I'm away from home, it feels like exploration. This Explorer then came across a rose garden in full bloom. It's located just 2 blocks from the San Diego Zoo entrance. This garden overlooks a canyon. The contrast between the roses and the surrounding indigenous cacti is striking. More striking is the profusion of color and scent provided by an acre of English tea roses currently in full bloom. I strolled the paths and felt total gratitude to those who envisioned and have supported the establishment and maintenance of this garden. I then began musing about the lasting impact that occurs when we allow ourselves to dream and to implement. The world is almost always a better place and we certainly put ourselves in a better place.  A place where beauty endures. To me, this is joy filled living.

In the center of the garden is a vine covered gazebo.

Julia Child

My new favorite rose - Sheila's Passion = it's very fragrant

About Face

Glen Lake from the air

This weekend, my brother Dave piloted several family members on an hour plane ride over Leelanau County, Michigan. It was fantastic to fly over some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Here are a couple of photos from the ride.

I'm with Brother Dave by his plane at Empire Airport.



Looking east over Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes toward Glen Lake

Leland, MI with marina and Fishtown. Lake Michigan is in the forefront with Lake Leelanau in the background.

West End of Glen Lake with DH Day Farm with Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes and Lake Michigan in the background.

Interfaith Bus Tour

I spent this past Saturday participating in an interfaith bus tour. In a nutshell, 3 bus loads of Methodists visited 5 different houses of worship: Hindu, Buddhist, Moslem, Jain and Sihk. These were all located in the western suburbs of Chicago. At each location our hosts extended amazing hospitality. It became a time of both love and learning. While there are real distinctions between our various religious beliefs, we all share many common values - for instance, a love of peace and respect for all humankind. It was a joy filled day of connection.

Morning Hike in North Phoenix

This morning I took a walk in the hills just north of Phoenix where I am currently attending a conference. The desert is beginning to bloom. I left the main trail and climbed a steep hill. At the top I watched the sunrise and felt the breeze from the east that is bringing rain clouds to the desert. The 360 view was outstanding. What a glorious way to begin the day! Yeah, the metaphor is, of course, leaving the marked trail, finding your own way to the top of the mountain and thereby drinking in the beauty of our existence.

I got lost in the beauty but did manage to snap a few photos.

Springtime in Columbia

Typically I am not a big fan of business travel. But once in a while I get to see something really beautiful. Today I was in Columbia, South Carolina. Spring has arrived here. This photo was taken by the entrance to the airport. It gives me hope that one day it will again be springtime in Chicago!

Pirate Robie turns Two

 Robie celebrated his 2nd birthday by dressing up in his favorite pirate outfit. He is such a good sport. He was a shelter cat who has found a home in our hearts.