Still here

I have been a bit absent from the blog lately — both in terms of actual blog posts but also in terms of really "being" in the blog posts. One of the reasons has been lack of time due to reconnecting with friends that I missed over the last 3 months, but I have to admit that I've also found it hard to be inspired in terms of creating content.

November is not my favorite month of the year. Days are getting shorter and although I did very much welcome fall and the end of summer, I can't seem to get used to the early darkness and chillier weather in the evenings here in Prescott.

For now here is a pic from my friend's ranch the other night when the light was still there and winter time hadn't set in yet.

Enjoy your weekend!

Love, Sharon

Lily Pads

Since discovering the Diana-photo-inspired look, my end of the month posts are bound to feature more photos than words from me. There are so many images to chase… I was feeling giddy when, thankfully, in a moment of downtime this weekend, I reconnected with an exquisite quote from one of my favorite authors. “My coming of faith did not start with a leap but rather a series of staggers from what seemed like one safe place to another. Like lily pads, round and green those places summoned and held me while I grew. Each prepared me to the next leaf on which I would land, and this way I moved across the swamp of doubt and fear. When I look back at these early resting places — I can see how flimsy and indirect a path they made. Yet each step brought me closer to the verdant pad of faith in which somehow I afloat today.” ::Anne Lamott::

I have observed that in my life, despite the rush and angst to make things happen, I've never been able to suddenly leap either. My path has actually been quite wobbly and accidental. It is good to recognize though, that no matter how many steps I took and in which direction I went, these steps sure led me to extraordinary places. So, whatever the future may bring, here is a unique end of the month opportunity: Let’s just rest in our accomplishments and be held by their support as we approach the end of another phase and, soon, end of the year.

Here are my personal “lily pads” I want to share with you:
First is the successfulness of this home exchange I am on. I feel both humbled and honored to be accepted into these beautiful countries (Denmark and Sweden) and these strangers' homes without having met in person before, to experience a place in their precious homes and also in the neighborhoods (Thank you Michael, Madeleine and Lars). It all sounds so easy, however, new friends didn't come "included" with either exchange location, and so I worked very hard at building a temporary life that included people. It has made me more friendly and outgoing, eager to meet and befriend new people and seek out as many opportunities as possible. Whether this meant small things such as going for picnics, asking a neighbor to come out for lunch with me, or finding and eating at different cafés, kayaking or taking bike trips across the city. These all represented the kinds of things I always wanted to do in Prescott, Az, but never got around to right before I left.


Finally, to complete the home exchange with even more joy, I will be going to Estonia by boat for a quick 24-hour trip with 2 other friends (1 seat still left in the cabin!) Love, Sharon :D

30 Days of Indie Travel | What European City do I Most Want to Visit, Day 16

Drikke vin means drink wine in Danish, and this is exactly what I was doing last night which lead me to an affirmative post for Day 16. Last night's terroir-driven Mediterranean wine/olive oil/sea salt tasting event here in Charlottenlund, provided my hands down answer of Sicily! (Technically not a city, but a region/province of Italy.)

I want to meet the people and see what they are really like. While they make know how to make a meal with passion, I also want to make them a meal with equal fervor. Share some Mt Etna wines. Kick a football. Listen to their stories. Or just sit and be quiet offering friendship as best I can, hoping they know how much I appreciate giving and sharing life's many great passions. I know it will just be beautiful even if I have to wait until after 10pm to get Pasta alla Norma, then so be it.

Here is a link to an enticing travel webpage: Sicily Vacations. Love, Sharon

30 Days of Indie Travel | Learning Languages, Day 13

If you could wake up tomorrow knowing any one language (one you don’t already know), what would it be and why?

I am hopelessly ungifted with languages. No natural talent whatsoever. In high school I wasn't a fan of speaking outloud in class and grateful (at the time) a foreign language was not a requirement to graduate. So like most American children, I was not exposed to many languages other than just English. I barely learned French in college. Un poquito Spanish has made its way into my vocabulary, but not really irredeemably so; because I lived in Tucson, Arizona for many years and traveled extensively in Mexico/Baja, the sounds and words started drifting in by proximity.

To answer the question, I wish I could wake up knowing Spanish, as I already have a jump start on it and also, it's the second most-spoken language of the world. Although Mandarin actually is population wise, with Spanish second and English third.

I like the idea of starting small today, with learning to toast life (or to send random bubbles of love) in as many different languages as possible. The clinking of glasses that cements friendships and celebrates new ones. I'm in Denmark today, therefore Skål! (pronounced Skoal in Denmark and Skawl in Sweden) Love, Sharon