Finished reading: Jénifer, or a French Princess - The (Truly) Unknown Islands (Jénifer, ou a Princesa da França - os Açores ignorados, in Portuguese) by Joel Neto 📚
Shadows.
What I appreciate most in my living situation is space. Or at least a place where I can go to be alone, to be creative, to sit, to read, to meditate. If space is not available, I will burrow out a small corner somewhere that I can psychically call my own and create the space that I want for the time that I need it.
Sunbathing on the rocks near Madalena, Pico Island, Azores. Across the water is the island of Faial.
The Power When…
- I am held with no judgement.
- I am challenged with no judgement.
- I am heard with no judgement.
- I am supported with no judgement.
A view of the eastern most edge of the south shore of the West Maui Mountains, taken as we approached the island on returning to Maui a couple of weeks ago.
This morning’s rainbow. There was a double rainbow, but the second one disappeared before I found my camera. 🌈
I browse through my RSS feeds this morning and find myself sitting here thinking of all the bloggers typing out their stories and thoughts.
…and for what reason…?
The story that I make up is, for the love of it. There are probably a myriad of other reasons, but I’m going with ”just because.”
The Cycles of Life
Saturday evening I went to the wedding of a man who sits in my men’s group. We celebrated on the slopes of Haleakala as the sun set, looking across the island to the cloud covered West Maui Mountains, and across the Pacific to the island of Lanai. On Sunday afternoon we went to a Celebration of Life ceremony for a dear friend who passed away quite suddenly. Many, many family and friends came to share in honour the recently departed, sharing stories of her life late into the night.
The rainbows seem to be making a slow return. This morning one started to appear but then thought better of it. Yesterday morning we were blessed with this rainbow 🌈
I don’t know what is going on here, but I spotted these four characters in a shop window in Lisbon last year.
Finished reading: The Place of Tides by James Rebanks.
A wonderful book. If I had to put it down I was always thinking of when I would return to it, wanting to be transported back to the remote islands off the north west coast of Norway, where an old woman cared for Eider ducks and collected their down. Here is a short passage put to animated video (source unknown). 📚
The first morning rainbow since my return. A little morning shower followed by sprinkling of sunshine did the trick. 🌈
🤪 I love to occasionally visit the ever expanding world of Floor796. As of writing this the project is only 53% completed and so much development still to happen. All credit to the author of this project.
On Being Cracked Open
There’s a quote that I like, so much so that I wouldn’t be surprised if I have used it elsewhere on my blog. It comes from the book Danziger’s Travels. The quote comes from the closing pages of the book. The author, Nick Danziger, has just returned from an extraordinary 18 month journey across Asia, following the Silk Road. He is sitting in his parents' home in Southern England, writing his book and reflecting on his trip.
No sooner have I spoken than I spied a very faint rainbow this morning. Very faint indeed, but I’m pretty sure that is what is hanging there in the sky. Is this a stretch? I don’t think so. I’ll take it.
Maui was looking very dry when we flew in last week. I caught on the local news yesterday announcements of water restrictions Upcountry. I’m sure that that is not the only place on the island to receive them.
I’m beginning to wonder what has happened to the rainbows since I returned to Maui? I haven’t seen one, and this morning it is raining. The ingredients are there. Perhaps they are taking a summer vacation?
To Infinity and Beyond (mid-Atlantic version, this one taken on the north shore of São Miguel in the Azores).
Portugal (Atlantic Ocean) version here
Pacific Ocean versions here and here.
From Automatic to Manual and Back Again
I learnt to drive in the UK on a manual, stick shift car, and drove manual cars until I was in my forties. Then I moved to the United States and started driving automatic cars (and on the other side of the road). For the last two and a half months I have been in Europe driving manual cars again. Cost considerations took us down that route when we were looking to lease a car.