Hope Is Eternal

The results of the recent elections seem to be causing a lot of emotions for everyone.  Those who are happy with the results and those who are not.  It seems the thing to do now is continue to do the best one can. What is done is done.  Moving on is the only option.  So, be the candle you are and keep on keeping on.

AFFIRM

"I will act now.  I will act now.  I will act now.  Henceforth, I will repeat these words each hour, each day, everyday, until the words become as much a habit as my breathing, and the action which follows becomes as instinctive as the blinking of my eyelids.  With these words I can condition my mind to perform every action necessary for my success.  I will act now.  I will repeat these words again and again and again.  I will walk where failures fear to walk.  I will work when failures seek rest.  I will act now for now is all I have.  Tomorrow is the day reserved for the labor of the lazy.  Tomorrow is the day when the failure will succeed.  I will act now.  This is the time.  This is the place.  I am the person."

-  Og Mandino

Pretty powerful words.  May they bring you what you seek.  

I am off to Trader Joe's and Target with my friend Chris.  

Enjoy being your light!

Sheets!

In the upper right hand corner you can see the sun shining on  Morro Rock!

Are you ready for this?  There is a clothes line here at the RV park, which means my sheets are in the washing machine as I type.  Since today is predicted to be another beautiful sunny day, and the next seven days are not so much, this is the perfect time to do them.  How excited am I?  Very much, thank you.  I'll take a picture once they are on the line.

Pictures done and this feels great.  How wonderful to be able to sleep on fresh sunshine dried sheets again.  It has been over a month.  This is probably one of the few RV parks that has this available for its customers.  Grateful!



Once everything is hung up I think I will go check out the health food store about five blocks away.  I am hearing good things about it and hope to find some good, local produce.  There also is a farmers market on Main street every Saturday evening, which I missed last week. The city closes the entire block for vendors.   As I remember, it is usually great and sometimes the local fishermen sell fresh fish.  Awesome.  The health food store also opened a small cafe as part of the store, so I want to see what that is all about.  I am looking forward to seeing all ted they have.

The area I left in the foothills is predicting to possibly get snow the end of this week.  Wow, to go from the 80's to cold enough for snow in a few days can reek havoc on the body systems.  Having experienced this many times, I remember how difficult it can be.  There are less extremes here on the central coast.  It can get rough here too though a bit easier to deal with.  And less changes with the seasons.  Right on the coast are few trees that turn the amazing autumn colors.  This is one of the things I miss when I am here.

Baking chicken this morning, since it will be warm today.  I also have some frozen cookie dough balls that I may as well bake now too.  My friend of almost forty years and I made these a while back and I am down to my almost last batch.  When I go back to the Sacramento area in December, she and I will make more so we both have a good stash in our freezers.  Fresh baked cookies sound yummy. 

 I brought my toaster oven with me because the oven in the motor home is a bit on the small side.  This way I have an appliance that helps with multiple tasks.  I am very attached to it.  I discovered that the rubberized shelf lining material works great for securing items on counter tops while traveling.  Things stay on the mats and nothing slides.  This way I can leave most things out while traveling rather than attempting to find a safe place to store them.  Safe storage space is at a premium in my home.  So far though, so good.

The little health food store here has grown and expanded and added a full cafe.  It is wonderful to see all they have done and added.  They have limited, though great, fresh locally grown produce.  So for dinner, steamed fresh Brussels sprouts and zucchini along with a piece of chicken and some pineapple.   

Ah!  Wonderful food, clean sunshine dried sheets on the bed, 73 degrees and sunny and life is good.  Thank you, Universe!

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."

-  William Shakespeare

Enjoy all that you receive!

Chats!

Yesterday I accomplished the walk to the beach plus getting laundry done.  Most excellent!

My favorite bench to occupy at the Morro Rock beach has proven to be insightful.  Today I had a delightful chat with a gentleman who is a professional photographer.  He travels around the world taking pictures of just about everything, I think.  We discussed politics, spirituality, the recent devastation of the east coast and much more.  He had to head back to Los Angeles and after his departure, I sat and watched the ever changing activity of the waves, birds and people.  I am thinking I will set up shop on this little bench and see just what the Universe brings my way.

I took a long walk on the beach this morning (and it is a fair distance to the beach) and was able to do so barefoot.  It was 80 degrees by 11 a.m.  Surfers, fishermen, pedestrians like myself and dogs.  All of us simply enjoying this piece of heaven.   This was before the bench time.  All good.

It is interesting to be aware of whether people I pass on the street will say "Hi" back to me or not.  If someone keeps their eyes down, pretty much a no response.  Some people smile and others avoid eye contact.  Most of the locals are friendly and greetings are sometimes offered before I can get mine out.  I guess this could be a study in social behavior.  Although, I think I have plenty of other things to focus on right now.  Anyway, it is interesting and curious.

It calls to mind that this morning when I went to sit on my bench this gentlemen was already sitting there and using a tripod to steady his camera while he took pictures.  I asked him if it was alright if I sat down and he replied "No problem, of course."  I sat as still as possible so as not to disrupt his progress by my causing movement of the bench.  We sat in silence for quite a while as he was busy clicking away and then he initiated conversation.  So, one just never knows whether people want to talk to you or not.  I think I am available for conversation most of the time.  Though there are times when the hermit in me sneaks out and I become a marvelous recluse.  I have to pay close attention to this one.  It is vary easy for me to go into hiding.  Gotta watch that.

This plaque was in the Wampum Trading Post and it looks as though it may be a Crow saying.  Hard to read.  It seems to say it all.  We just need to realize this and respond accordingly.  Others have said, "What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?"  It seems one only need look inside to discover what it is you love doing and do it.  Sounds very simple.  I think it is, as long as we block out the outside distracting noises.  Trust ones self and do our best.  This is all we can do anyway.

Enjoy your greatness!

Pelicans

This pelican and I had some deep conversations.  He was about seven feet away from me and was doing a lot of drying and cleaning his feathers.  Then he stopped and just looked at me.  Very cool.  A friend called and as we chatted, the pelican moved to the railing to the right and squatted down in a resting position about five feet away.  So, I chatted and the pelican and I continued to watch each other, until some dogs came by causing the pelican to take flight.  

I was near the boat launch area and the pelicans, gulls and various other birds wait for the fishermen to return and clean their catch at the cleaning station that is provided.  

And these were resting on top of the fish waste dumpster.  A bit less anxious as those in the other picture.  I like the resting position of the pelican on the left.  Sometimes they will also turn their head around and rest their head on their back facing the opposite direction.  I wonder if I could do that?  Nope.



Wind came up during the night, waking me often.  The good news is everything held together and is in tact.  Thank you.  It was very windy this morning as I went to return some unused sewer hose connector parts to the hardware store.  I have no idea why I bothered to kind of fix my hair.  It only took minutes for the wind blown look to take over.

On my way back I wandered through the area my friends are moving to and ran into a few of their new neighbors.  Chatted for a while and then returned home.  I had a lengthy and wonderful phone conversation with my daughter-in-law.  I am so grateful she is in my life.

I actually have a bit of a sunburn on my face from the time outside yesterday.  Today looks just as promising.  This is unless I choose to do laundry.  Hummm.  Time outside or doing laundry.  I'll let you know later which won out.  I know what I would rather do.  

Well, he is cleaning, so I guess so can I.  

Enjoy wherever you are!

Morro Bay's Pet Rock

There is a wonderful walking path to Morro Rock.  It follows the harbor shoreline giving one the opportunity to watch the seals, sea birds and sea otters.  There is also a bike path, as well as, lanes for vehicles.  It used to be just vehicle lanes and everyone else had to fend for themselves to get to the rock.  The previous narrow dirt path was less than adequate to handle bikes and pedestrians.  Now it is absolutely wonderful for anyone wanting to get to the rock.  Wheelchair friendly.

Perhaps you were thinking this was just a little rock at the end of the beach.  Well, it is very impressive in size.  According to Wikipedia, it is 576 feet high.  The Wikipedia site is filled with specific information and facts about this historic rock.  Check it out.






And this is even closer, at the northeast end of the rock.  Almost to the beach now.





The walk across the dirt and gravel parking lot, which is huge, takes a few minutes and when walking be mindful of the vehicles driving in and out of the lot.  Lots of surfers come to this beach and they hold a surfing event at least once a year.  Then the parking lot is crazy full.

Made it!  And so worth the walk.  This picture does not pick up the thirty plus surfers, diving pelicans and other sea birds that are enjoying this amazing day.  There are families on the beach watching their little ones run and scream as they chase the waters edge.  A young woman in a wet suit is throwing a ball in the surf for her dog to retrieve.  Cars pull up to the edge and visitors sit and watch all the activities.  I found a bench to sit on and watch myself.  I could sit for hours because the activity is constantly changing.  Definitely a slice of heaven, as far as I am concerned.

So, when the weather is like this it seems odd to think of ever leaving this place.  Let me assure you, though, when storms come in, it can be an entirely different scene.  The wind and rain will wash pot holes in the parking lot and huge waves can wash up and over the jetty.  Sometimes in the summer the fog can sit over the area for weeks.  Enjoying this now though, is what I get to have and I will accept it wholeheartedly.  Thank you, Universe!

Just spoke with my friends and they are currently moving into their new residence and their new neighbors are stopping by to welcome them and say "HI."  What a wonderful experience for them.  I am sure they will love being in their new space.  Life is awesome.

Walking down the main street this morning this sign was in a shop window and caught my eye.

Enjoy your Great Spirit!

Good Morning, Sunshine!

Oh, to wake up to sunshine is very nice.  It is a little windy, but who cares! 

This pelican was cleaning and drying it's feathers after an early morning breakfast.  Notice it has a white head and neck.  I think this indicates he is a mature adult.





This morning seemed to be about all things pelican.  They were in places I had not seen them before.  There are several docks at the shore line with piers that extend out in the harbor.  The shore line is covered with large rocks, or boulders, as I see them.  Several days ago there were lots of seals hanging out on the rocks.  Today, however, it was the pelicans who were gathered in the sun, drying and cleaning their feathers.  They were most courteous with each other being respectful of each others space.  No one was complaining to the other about taking up too much room.  It was great to see how they were simply there, doing their thing, and honoring their neighbors.

This seal was looking at the pelicans as if to say, "Which one of you would like to be my next meal?"  One of the pelicans actually hissed/squawk at him.  And the rest just ignored him.  He got the message and swam off, after some fish, I would imagine.


The pelicans were very active this morning.  Flying overhead, I paid close attention to avoid being in their blast zone.  Of course, I'm unclear how one does this since you never know for sure when the event will occur.  Anyway, I was successful.

This is the view of Morro Rock while standing at the end of the North "T" Pier in the harbor.  The rock almost appears to be floating on the water.  This was an exceptionally calm and clear scene.  

And this is just to show what is going on above the rock.  Change is eminent.  Shortly after this was taken, the wind came up.

Just heard from my friends who sold the Motel, and their escrow just closed on their new residence.  Needless to say, they are excited.  The plan is to move them Sunday or Monday.  This is such great news for them.  I think I am just as excited as they are.

Very grateful to hear from my brother and family living in Virginia and that they escaped the major wrath of Sandy.  He said they had a little water leakage around one window and a tree was down in the common area, along with a few roof shingles.  Their cleanup and repairs will be much less and easier than those in New York and New Jersey.  Again, prayers to all those affected by the hurricane.  

We were fortunate to have zero effects from the 7.7 magnitude earthquake along the coast of British Columbia, Canada on October 28th.  There was so much news coverage on the hurricane that I saw nothing on the earthquake.  From what I read on the USGS site, there was little damage and they ended the tsunami warning not too long after it was issued.  Lots going on, that is for sure.

While I was out on the pier a member of the Harbor Patrol, who I am friends with, came by and we caught up on everything (well, maybe not everything) that has been going on here.  I got to know him fairly well when I used to live here.  A really nice young man who was extremely helpful and readily disbursed his knowledge.  I always enjoy talking with him and it was great to even get a chance to see him now.  I love coincidences.  

A gift from a friend

Enjoy your wishes!

Soup, Sun, Fog!

A sweet pot of flowers that almost glow in the fog.

Love the coast.  Woke to soup where one could barely see their hand in front of them.  Within an hour the sun came out and it was a beautiful sun shiny day.  Before long, fog covered everything.   Looks as though it will be soup tonight.

What I thought I would do today became something entirely different.  The sewer hose from the motor home to the sewer connection sprang a leak, in the middle of the hose.  Very strange.  Anyway, it took several trips to various RV parts stores to get everything back in working order.  It actually took the owner of another RV park which has a service and parts section, to figure out how to solve my dilemma.  Apparently the connector at the motor home end is unusual, so it took some good ole' yankee know how to come up with the solution.  Thank you, God!  Spent almost all day taking care of this.  So glad I am schedule free.  Otherwise, well, we won't go there.  So, now I have some extra parts just in case something else in this area occurs.  I may come to someone else's rescue someday.



This amazing succulent is quit stunning up close and personal.  It is in a barrel with a few other plants, though this one truly stood out.



Last night was my first official night and full day staying in my motor home.  I slept well and woke up at my usual time.  Everything went as anticipated.  Everything works as I had hoped.  I continue to get more organized and finding homes for things.  My time at the beach the past two days was lacking, so I am looking forward to having some beach time tomorrow.  Thankfully, I at least have the ocean air to take in and enjoy.  

I brought my mending projects with me, so I will get started on them soon.  I brought several other projects, as well, so they will also be part of my doings.  I did purchase more yarn before I departed, so that too is available to enjoy.  Have yet to get to the reading I was going to do because I got so caught up in the news about hurricane Sandy and all of the devastation.  All of those victims can us all the love and prayers we can send.  

My friends, who just sold their Motel, are possibly going to close escrow tomorrow on their new residence.  They are so excited to get started with their life change.  At the moment they are stationary though this looks as though it will change soon.  I am so happy for them.  It is amazing to realize I have known them for thirteen years now.  They took me under their wing when I first moved to Morro Bay in 1999.  I stayed at their Motel while I was waiting to move into the rental house.  We have a lot in common and have shared a lot over the years.  They were always so good to my Mom when I brought her to the coast.  Mom always felt safe at the Motel because of their caring ways.  Thanks so much Patty and Stu.  Love you both.

OK, getting tired after all the walking and working of the day.  Pretty certain I will have another great nights sleep.  And wake to see what the day will hold.  Always a surprise.

"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world - the master calls a butterfly."

-  Richard Bach

Enjoy your surprises!