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The 17-mile road that runs through the public areas of Monument Valley allows for numerous stops and lots of little trails that lead to lots of amazing views, like this one of an approaching storm from North Window. To access this view, you walk on a little two-person wide curving trail along the side of a steep mesa. We were fortunate enough to have this lovely spot to ourselves for about five minutes. As we headed back towards the parking area, numerous vehicles arrived and vomited up about 100 french tourists who all immediately headed for where we were. We barely edged by them. I think if they had all actually made it out on the trail, they would have filled it from one end to the other. Maybe they did…we didn’t stick around to see.
Monument Valley, Arizona.
Quote of the day: ”It seems that scientific research reaches deeper and deeper. But it also seems that more and more people, at least scientists, are beginning to realize that the spiritual factor is important. I say ‘spiritual’ without meaning any particular religion or faith, just simple warmhearted compassion, human affection, and gentleness. It is as if such warmhearted people are a bit more humble, a little bit more content.” — Dalai Lama XIV
Daily gratitudes:
A touch of thunder last night
Finishing a good book
Picking the next book
Missing someone you love
That some of the sparkles from my red shoes glitter in the hallways at work (days after I have worn them)
We had a wonderful long birthday weekend for MKL. One night in Glenwood Springs, two nights in Monument Valley, and a night at Lost Canyon Lake Lodge, with lots of driving and laughter. I’ll be sharing images from this amazing place over the next few weeks. Hope you enjoy!
Monument Valley, Arizona.
Quote of the day: “Creativity arises from our ability to see things from many different angles.” — Keri Smith
Daily gratitudes:
Purple silk
MKL
Flowers from my daughter
Surprise meatloaf
Hugs
Yes, this is the last thing one might expect to see driving through the brown flatness of the San Luis Valley. But here it was. A giant cast iron chicken (well, rooster). And in an interesting coincidence, we had been considering going to South Dakota to see a legendary giant cast iron rooster for Memorial Day, and wound up here for Memorial Day instead. It was fate, I tell you. Fate.
Hooper, Colorado.
Quote of the day: “There’s something very freeing about losing the anchors that have always defined you. Frightening, sad, but exhilarating in a poignant way, as well. You’re free to float to the moon and evaporate or sink to the bottom of the deepest ocean. But you’re free to explore. Some people confuse that with drifting, I suppose. I like to think of it as growing.” – Deborah Smith
Daily gratitudes:
The “Cheese Louise” food truck that I passed on the road
Sushi with Kelsea
Warm breezes
Air conditioning
Cream lace
Prairie dogs safely crossing the road
P.S. Please include Colorado in your prayers tonight. Our wildfire season, so terrible last year, has started off with a great bang today. We have five fires burning in just one day.
If you have never been to Garden of the Gods, you must go. It’s a lovely drive and an even better place to hike.
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Quote of the day: “Every dreamer knows that it is entirely possible to be homesick for a place you’ve never been to, perhaps more homesick than for familiar ground.” — Judith Thurman
Daily gratitudes:
Clearing the yard
Car shows
Hugs
Summer
Good company
Being with someone fun
We saw this road from the train, and then we had the chance to drive it. It was as delicious as it looked. It was wonderful how the train crossed the road, back and forth, over and over. People would stop and get out of their cars to wave and take pictures as we passed by. I’d like to see the train from the road, now that I’ve seen the road from the train!
Somewhere in New Mexico…or maybe Colorado.
Quote of the day: “Cherish your solitude. Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. Sleep out alone under the stars. Learn how to drive a stick shift. Go so far away that you stop being afraid of not coming back. Say no when you don’t want to do something. Say yes if your instincts are strong, even if everyone around you disagrees. Decide whether you want to be liked or admired. Decide if fitting in is more important than finding out what you’re doing here. Believe in kissing.” — Eve Ensler
Daily gratitudes:
Jessica in physical therapy
That the ocean is somewhere out there, east or west
A patch of blue sky in the grey
Reiki bubbles
Knowing that what’s given to my heart is more important than what I wear on my finger
Not mine, but someone’s. I don’t think I could live in the South Park area. Aside from always thinking of the cartoon when I would say where I live, the winds that rip through here in the winter, and the lack of trees make this a lovely spot to drive through, but not the place for our high country house. We’ll keep looking, though this is awfully nice to look at.
Outside of South Park, Colorado.
Quote of the day: “People get into a heavy-duty sin and guilt trip, feeling that if things are going wrong, that means that they did something bad and they are being punished. That’s not the idea at all. The idea of karma is that you continually get the teachings that you need to open your heart. To the degree that you didn’t understand in the past how to stop protecting your soft spot, how to stop armoring your heart, you’re given this gift of teachings in the form of your life, to give you everything you need to open further.” — Pema Chodron
Daily gratitudes:
Dancing in the kitchen
Stormy clouds in the morning
Air conditioning
The lady who shared her roast beef with me at the grocery store
Mystery birthday presents for MKL
We’re back, and we had a wonderful trip to Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. It was beautiful weather and we saw lots of loveliness. Pictures will appear over the coming weeks.
Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado.
Quote of the Day: “Angels are all around us when we need them the most, and when we just need a nudge or two.” — Christael Ann Bengston
Daily gratitudes:
Nanci
A sound night’s sleep
That Lentil the Bean’s surgery went well
A beautiful day
Coffee with MKL
Kelsea
My mind was full of words today, between my own writing and my work writing, so full that it distracted me from life, and from the lingering cold, as well as the aches and pains in my bones. Yes, my bones crave a warmer climate, which is dimly visible in a fog on the far distant horizon of my future. The day I took this shot, it was May, but so incredibly blustery and rainy and cold that it felt like winter. Kelsea and I hadn’t brought sweatshirts with us on this trip because it was MAY, for heaven’s sake, and we had quite a time finding some to buy. We didn’t find any in this incredibly creepy thrift shop, but it was an adventure looking.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Quote of the Day: “Once we recognize our shadow’s existence we must resist the enticing step of going with its flow.” — Karl Malantes
Daily gratitudes:
Vintage five-window pickup trucks
New opportunities for MKL
My phone conversation with Kelsea this afternoon
Blue skies
Refusing to scrape the ice off my car (and not driving) during this storm – the sun melted it today
I do believe this a badger. Not a honey badger, but a badger nonetheless. Please correct me if I’m wrong. I know badgers are mean critters, but this one is pretty cute.
Denver, Colorado.
Quote of the day: “Sometimes we make love with our eyes. Sometimes we make love with our hands. Sometimes we
make love with our bodies. Always we make love with our hearts.” – Author unknown
Daily gratitudes:
MKL
Nice walks on sunny days
The dream-bombing yellow dog (named Dog)
Iridescence
Touch
I love the smell of line-dried laundry. It brings back so many memories. My parents never had a dryer the entire time I lived at home. But I guess I love the convenience of dryers more. In some places, that convenience is a luxury, and so we still have scenes like this.
Wailuka, Hawaii.
Quote of the day: “Dare to be brave today, and trust that when you extend your wings, you will fly.” – Mary DeMuth
Daily gratitudes:
MKL
Black
A beach in sight
Island-A-Day calendar
Love and reassurance
