New at the shop!

Now available at the shop!

Now at the shop!

Now available at the shop!

Now available at the shop!

The RSS feed is up and working.  If you would like to get notifications send to your email of when the blog is updated, simply click on the orange RSS button.

The layout is under reconstruction.  Everything needs a facelift from time to time.  With luck, and a couple of hours this weekend, everything should be back up to running.

The Shop will be officially OPEN on Monday January 9, 2012.  Thanks to all who have made this possible.  Shop updates will be sent out via Twitter (attached to Facebook) and email (through the RSS updates from the "Inner Sanctum" blog).  Check back often for new items.

This past year has gone by in a whirlwind.  There was lots of traveling, within the state, country, and hemisphere.  There have also been many family milestones, some better received than others.  Most of all, I took the time for some much needed inner reflection. Of course I took notes along the way, and with all luck these will be able to be turned into a series of posts for your reading pleasure.


For the first time in many months, I am finally beginning to feel at peace with myself and my life.  Being comfortable in ones own skin, and in one's own person, I think is often taken for granted.  But it is ultimately up to us to find this continually evolving comfort zone.

Until the new week, ciao and best adventures to you all!

Whooops.

Not entirely sure what to say beyond that.  Life appears to have gotten the best and worse of me for the past few months.  Rising to both the peak of utter chaos to the low of completely dry & dull.

Today, for the first time in too long, Oakley & I headed up the hill, deeper into the woods, for a much needed serious hike (not simply a lets move our bodies destination type of trek, but one to completely take in our surroundings and be grateful.  I had forgotten how at peace I am in the forest, surrounded by the trees, streams, and animals.  My camera felt a bit heavy in my hand, and the dog lead tugged jerkingly in other, until we were able to find our balance together again. (Yes, in National Forests, Oakley typically enjoys running free beside me, but with it being more crowded than usual being a weekend and holiday, it was best that he were explicitly next to me for today's jaunt).

I uploaded photos from the past few weeks at least, but have not genuinely gone through them; although I did make a promise I would try to share some of my talking trees later this evening.  At the moment though, I can't seem to sit still for very long.... which is quiet odd since I have a compelling urge to create.  Only morning will tell where this will lead me, I'm along for the ride, happily of course.

As for the rest of the summer, now that it appears to be almost halfway over.... traveling, most likely to the West Coast.  It's difficult to believe that I would voluntarily leave my mountain this time of year, but it is part of the highs and lows I had mentioned earlier.  I adore my family, and it is simply time to take care of some business.  With that said, I bid you adieu as so I am able to create travels plans for the 4-legged wonder and myself.

xoxo

I am back, alive and well.  Well, well is a relative word, but for the sake of conversation, let’s merely go with it.  I am, however, settled enough to gather my thoughts together for a slight update.

My family as well as my almost completely disassembling and reconstructing a life plan with some minor and other major modifications have seemed to consume my life for the past 4 months.  With that said, the family is doing very well indeed.  My life bubble is what it is, and, I love it.  I do know that there may be some pretty drastic alterations in the near future; but I am learning to embrace some change, knowing that in order to fulfill some of those dreams I cherish most that I may need to compromise or at least modify some other constants in my life. <more to come>

On the bright side, while my life is in the gray area between limbo land and ultra-fast-forward, I have drug out and dusted off my sewing machine (tragically the first time since living here) as well as taken up knitting, officially.  Hopefully this means I will be able to finish some of these new projects I have begun over the past few weeks in my quasi downtime.  And if motivation continues, I sincerely hope to clear out my closet of forgotten creative ventures.  It is a goal to get them completely, photographed and off to their new homes before summer is over!  Wish me luck.

Off to knit a few rows before completely settling in for the evening!  Ciao

The air is cool and crisp flowing through my nostrils.  As I breathe deeply in, it’s chill throbs in my lungs.  Rhythmically my feet pound along the path.

An orange and white kayak, charcoal paddle leaving ripple marks as it dips into the dark water.  A man with a graying beard and black hat, red life preserver nods hello to me as we pass.

Along the headwater, the sandy trail is supple under my pink, white and black shoes—moist from the early morning precipitation.

In this time before dawn there is nothing but darkness to surround me.  But it is calm and reassuring, bringing peace physically and mentally alike.  The water’s gentle lapping, my exhaling and stride all in sync creating it’s own soundtrack for the morning.

Miles pass and I transform into the energy needed for the day.

I have completely squandered the last 2 hours.  Without any solid reccollection of where they went or what I did.

After getting more sleep than what is good for me last night, I ended up in a lazy sort of haze, where I was only semi aware of my surroundings today.  Not necessarily a bad thing, but being not entirely plugged in, it didn't get me my connection and footing that I thrive upon.  It's almost impossible to notice the little details when one is barely noticing the bookshelf right in front of one's own eye (yes, I do tend to walk into it when not paying enough attention).

This evening was better though.  I ended up down the hill and socialized.  And enjoyed it.  Something that I have not really done for sometime.

It's the St. Patrick's Day season, and I know that to most of  you it is a silly one day holiday.  But from my background it does in fact turn into a season.  I grew up competitively Irish Step Dancing.  Once that stuff is in your blood it is about impossible to get out, no matter how much one tries.  I still breathe dancing.  I can't stand or sit still and often find myself reverting to auto-pilot and merely dancing away.  These days, I no longer compete (much to my heart's dismay, but to my joints delight); but I do still perform with a pipe band (bagpipes & drum, and dancer ensemble).  I'm not certain what I would do if I were unable to dance (which there has been threats of due to injury a few years back).  Thus, the single day turns into a season for us.  We share; we shine.

Tonight was a simple, short gig.  But it was a chance to laugh and dance again.  There is something about the drones & drums that gets my adrenaline rushing.  I can't stay still even if I wanted; then my feet start moving, I leap in to the air, rhythmically pounding out set routines against the hardwood floor, my hair swirling around as I glide effortlessly across the stage.

It was a good night.

Now that I am collected and home, I am oddly back to my semi zoned state; but it is late and I am worn out in all manners.  Sleep will be welcomed.