RETREAT OR RE "TREAT"!

The last week has been full of new friends and great rest, followed by a  fun reception and signing at the Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas.  Texas had finally found relief from extreme heat and drought last weekend, as friend, Anita, and I headed to Laity Lodge in … TX.  I had just commented on how “flat” this area of the “Hill Country” was  when our Suburban started heading down, down, down into a long and vast river canyon which revealed a hidden and incredible beauty. 

After driving IN the river for a ways, the road ended at the grounds of the lodge and our home for the next three days.  During those days we had the opportunities to attend presentaions by Diana Schick, enjoy amazing meals, rest, and spend a lot of time outdoors enjoying the natural beauty of this canyon. 

It was impressed upon us that the name “Frio" River meant freezing river, however, the two of us did decide to brave the water.  Anita and I were delighted to find it to be very mild and comfortable, in fact glorious. It was so clear we could see the huge and happy catfish and water turtles swimming throughout.  We donned goggles or snorkel and mask to get an up close look!   Kayaking was amazing and so peaceful on this lazy, late summer river.  Feeling fearless, Anita and I went above and beyond and took the big plunge.  Up river the canyon narrows and creates an abyss where the water is extraordinarily deep and dark blue.  It is appropriately called the BLUE HOLE.  After our short hike there, we watched a few college students  jump from the rocks into the depths and come up screaming and laughing.   Finding this irresistible, we , too, jumped… not from quite the same height as the young folk, but high enough for us to be totally proud of ourselves. We really felt so blessed to be having so much fun! 

This was a great highlight after starting out day with getting lost and three miles out of our way on a hike.  the hike had been one funny episode after another as we were trying to find directions back.  At one turn we even ran into a group of hunters gutting a hanging hog.   They had no answers for us, and we wandered until we were finally picked up by ‘Camper John” who drove us back to our lodge.

photo courtesy of Laity Lodge website

The weekend ended and as we drove out of the canyon.  I imagined what a miraculous and awesome experience it must have been for early travelers or explorers who discovered and settled along such hidden treasures.  

Signs of the Season

The signs of season change and harvest are here even on the California coast.  The shadows are longer, the air is warm, but fresh, and pumpkins are nestled into position on the front step.  The signals of quieter seasons and holidays are beginning to appear! Happy Fall!

BLAST FROM PAST- TIMELESS

Flipping through a 35 year old journal, memories of adventures and travels are easy to relive.  The old coasters, tickets, stickers, letters and postcards.... the daily writing and sketching are reminders of not only the actual events, but that season of life, mid college hopes and dreams and ambition.
It is heartwarming to read the quotes that were written or pasted on the pages so long ago, that were the inspiration for that time. They are indeed - Timeless - meaning as much  today as they did.

For today, enjoy these anonymous quotes from 1973

"When nothing holds you back except the horizon, that is called freedom."

"I have found a place to go and take things slow. A place where time can put peace in my mind."

A Woman's Heart - Vicky

Hope

A woman's heart is where her passions grow. It is where her joys soar.  It is where her secrets rest. . . and wrestle.  It is where her emotions ache and her sufferings linger.  Her heart is where her hope is restored.

So You Think You Can't Dance?

There is something about dancing that is so appealing and freeing.   Just watching other people dance is enough to inspire a smile and a joyous feeling in me.  I truly admire those who can learn a routine, or follow their partner's lead, or perform as an expression of story or feeling through music and movement.  It is entertaining, athletic, and artistic.  Sometimes I even get a bit envious, since I have a extreme lack of talent, experience and confidence in dancing.  How wonderful it must be to step out and swing, swirl and leap... tap, step and wiggle to the music?  I believe the brain must have a compartment where dance talent develops, and I must have missed out or have waited too long and now brain and limbs don't communicate fast enough to keep up, nor do the brain cells remember the steps beyond the span of minutes.  We recently participated in a flash mob which allowed us to be "anonymous" and blend into the mass, but also have dozens of dancers to follow, so that remembering the routine was not an issue.  The effort and experience were worth it, so silly and exhilarating.  We decided it did not matter how we danced but that we danced at all!  If laughter is good medicine, then dancing is its sister "energy boost" or mega vitamin!