Life On The Central Coast

Last week I saw a video someone had posted on Facebook. It brought tears to my eyes, hurt to my heart and after watching it, a determination to find something I could do in my community to help. Please take a moment and watch this video from beginning to end.... I started looking around for something I could do in my area. It didn't take very long. California has been hit with storms over the last week of a magnitude we haven't seen in YEARS. We were taking an exit to Christmas shop and there, squatting under an umbrella in pouring down rain, was a homeless man. No warm coat, just wet. I'm searching my car for something I could give him and I had nothing with me. NOTHING! No money, no food, nothing. As he came near my car I was almost in tears because there was nothing I could do. But then he passed my car.... it seems the car behind me had called him over and he was responding. I look in my rear view mirror and out comes a hand with a brown lunch bag tied with ribbon, mayb...

Pictures. If you are like me you have a bunch of them. This one was take just a couple of weeks ago as we were enjoying a visit to Avila Barn. My niece shared it on Facebook a couple of days ago and it's really special to me. From the moment I laid eyes on it I saw the magic that is Family. (Back row left to right - Me, My sister Lynn, my niece Carla - Carla's sons Cade in the middle and Jake, bottom middle) My sister Lynn says, "you can see we are related, we look alike." And that we kind of do. But I saw something more. The interconnectedness of a family. Without planning it at all, look at how we are each touching someone. My niece has her arm around my sister. My arm is around my sister and Cade. Lynn has her hand on Jake... we are connected, family. It reminded me of the roots of a tree.... grounded, strong, a bit tangled into each others lives perhaps but that wanting to be included... tangled....touched. Our families, our "trees" of connectedness, t...

I've played along with the Ali Edwards, One Little Word Challenge for the past 2 years.In 2008, my word was Greatfulness . There was SO much to be Grateful for that year. In one year we added 3 grandsons to our family. Last year I chose REcreate . What I was hoping for was a year of having fun, camping, doing all sorts of recreational activities. But I think the "Universe" heard RE create and instead of laying around on some beautiful beach, we did home repairs and fix-ups for the entire year! My home is gorgeous now and I'm really happy I picked that word, BUT, like the end of 2009, I'm ready for a break. I've tossed around words like peace, tranquility, rest, serenity, meditation but nothing has really seemed right. Then I was doing some reading yesterday and it said to just let the word choose you. I'm open, I'm waiting..... I think I'm hearing my One Little Word coming in.... My One Little Word for 2011 is.... ROOTS! I'm the keeper of m...