The Bliss Chicks Celebrate My Birthday With Me

I had a fabulous day yesterday. The Bliss Chicks (my art group made up of 5 wonderful, inspirational women), took me for lunch at the Sushi Bar 5517 in Sechelt. I love it there. We then came back to the studio where they gave me a huge gorgeous basket of gourmet Italian goodies, beautiful hand made birthday cards and presented me with a yummy almond cake/torte, which we all shared in. What a great group of 'chicks', don't you think? We spent the rest of the afternoon making a greeting card using the easel card technique which I had done with sister, Deb, earlier in the year. Way cool. I had a great day which was capped off with dinner out with my husband (see below).

Birthday Dinner

Owen took me out to the Painted Boat for my birthday dinner last night. It was fabulous. I should have had my camera. Many of my family, friends, and students have heard me say that "presentation is everything" and in this case, the presentation was not only elegant but the whole meal proved to be right up there in the 'best ever' category. We chose to have our meal with wine paring. Yep, me too! In total the wine paring only amounted to a large glass of wine but gave us a nice 'taste test' variety. But the menu... I started my meal with Rare Albacore Tuna, Warm Prosciutto, Cucumber & Ginger Water, Soya Couscous; moved on to a main course of Roasted Queen Charlotte Halibut, Root Vegetable Fricassee, Shitake Mushrooms, Dashi Broth and completed the meal with Almond Chili Chocolate Torte, Meringue. Delicious! It was a lovely evening and Owen and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend the Painted Boat Restaurant for a complete dining experience on the Sunshine Coast. It has a fabulous view and is fine dining in a casual atmosphere at it's best. hmmm, was this a post about my evening out for my birthday or was it a testimonial for the Painted Boat Restaurant???

Birthdays

I have oftened pondered the idea of birthdays. The celebration of the day you were born. The year we 'add on' to each anniversary. Once I thought turning 13 was a milestone, then 16 (legal driving age), then 18, then 21, then 30, 40, 50, 55, and 60. "Why 13 (thirteen)?" The beginning teen years; the year one becomes independent and grown up. A young lady. That was my wish. Whether I accomplished those things at such an early age is unclear. 18 and 21; in one State, 18 was a legal drinking age and in another it was 21. In Canada, I think it went from 21 years old to 19 years old. Either way, one of my claims, was ignoring the legal drinking age! But voting; now that was another story. 21 has always been very important to me. I was 21 in 1970. I was in Canada, no longer living in the United States; unable to vote there and unable to vote here; it meant getting my Canadian Citizenship to be able to have a say in how my government would make decisions (what did I know?). It took me a few years, but I gained my citizenship in 1976. I now exercise my right to vote when the opportunity presents itself; keep in mind our Federal election is only 17 days away - I need to do some serious homework before then. Right now, in Canada, and I imagine throughout the world, many eyes are focusing on the upcoming Royal Wedding, only a mere 14 days away. But I digress... 30 passed me by, then 40. Wow 40. I had no idea it would be such a tremulous year for me, until I reflect back.. At 40, I felt I'd turn some corners, made some important life altering decisions and began to fully appreciate where I'd been and where I was going. 50 was just another year with a new decade in front of me ("Why 55?", you ask - the year of my retirement!) and 60 was just another year, BUT oops - I had major health problems the year I turned 60. I just realized that age 60 went hand and hand with my pancreatic attack. Yikes. A near death experience, months in the hospital, and finally, major surgery. My niece just wrote about the number '3' and things that are in 3's. Since that turning point - age 60 onward - I have had 3 major changes in my life. Health issues (resolved), Jeremy's death and Mom's passing on. Life altering events. On days, like today, when the sun shines, the moon is full and bright, and I open my heart; I breath deep and realize how fortunate I am. I am truly, truly grateful for all that I have had and all that I have. These 60 years plus 2 are good and 62 is just another number. I have a loving family, wonderful friends, a supportive husband, and I am blessed. 62. Yahoo! Happy birthday to me.

Tears

If tears could build a stairway

And memories a lane,

I'd walk right up to heaven

And bring you home again.

A Quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson

My neice, Kirsten, has just started a new blog, Dancing to a New Beat. In a post titled "Materialsim to Minimalism - 365 Days to Becoming my Authentic Self", she quotes Ralph Waldo Emerson "Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink in the wild air." I love that quote. Kirsten further wrote, "To me, this epitomizes freedom of self, freedom from the shackles of a life that I have been merely a casual observer - rather than an enthusiastic particpant. No more! I will live in the sunshine and swim in the sea, and drink in the wild air!! No more will I be a slave to the 'rules' I had no part in creating and never really understood! And whenever the time comes that I must shuffle off of this mortal coil, I want to look back and say that I lived a life of purpose, a life of intent, a life of authenticity, a life of kindness to everything and everyone around me.

You go girl. If even some of us thought of buying into just of portion of your new found committment, what a world it would be.

THE STORY OF THE 'BOOK'

I am sorry it has taken me so long to post photo's of the book that arrived at our house while we were away last winter. It is a book sent to us out of love and I want to share it with my family and friends. And I want each of the contributors to see the completed project. Here is the story of the book:

Days, weeks and months after Jeremy died, I seemed to walk around in a bit of blur. I had to take care of myself and let others take care of me. I was all consumed in my grief. We went away; south, looking for some peace and solace. Returning home was a big step and a difficult one. So many more memories surrounded me and the everyday mundane would once again rear it's head, I would have to struggle through each day.

Our mail had piled up and there on the table sat a box. A regular brown paper covered box. I looked at the return address. It was from my dear friend, Mary in Victoria. Mary, since my illness in August 2007 (which continued to August 2008 when I started to regain my strength) had been sending me cards and presents regularly. They were always full of wonderful surprises. I knew that the box contained just such a gift and with everything else on my mind and having so much to do after being gone so long, I was in no hurry to open it because I knew when I did, I would want to be able to sit quietly and appreciate it. And ofcourse, you know me, I would want to respond, and I wasn't sure I had the energy. So the box sat for a couple of days.

On that day, right after lunch, I decided to open the box. Scissors in hand, I cut open the package. It took a minute for it to register that inside was a book, a collaborative. Being in a circle of artistic friends who are continuely sharing their art by way of collaboration, I knew instantly what it was. And I knew just as quickly that it had everything to do with Jeremy. I was stunned. I sat down, rather heavily and put my head in my hands, and I sobbed. I cried for my loss and cried for the love that surrounded me. I can't explaiin the heaviness that overcame me or the inability to go any further than the first page of the book. Deb Denton's page. I didn't even get the first line read. When I gathered the strength, I pulled the tissue paper over the book, left the book in the box and put it on the dining room table. It sat for four days before I was able to take it out of the box, and it sat for another 4 days before I was able to touch it again. Deb, your page got handled several times in those days. It did not get read... It was over a week before Owen and I sat down together, and together we looked at and read each page, each gift.

After, I looked at the book often and still do. Caressing each page, shedding lots of tears. These women, these artists, put their heart and their love into the following pages, bringing me solice in a time of deep saddness. There is no way to express our thanks. But know that I love you, that I thank you and that I will treasure this keepsake and gift to Jeremy and to Owen and I. AND Ms. Mouat, thank you for your big heart and facilitating this project. You have a huge schedule, one I could not keep up with, and yet you have time to take care of those around you.

I love you all.

The Book

Mary wrote on the inside cover that lists the artist names,

'A book for Nadine and Owen ~ when words fail, Art speaks ~ a project of love'.

Deb Denton, San Diego, CA - Front

Deb Denton, San Diego, CA - Back

Lorraine Stobie, Sunshine Coast, BC - Front

Lorraine Stobie, Sunshine Coast, BC - Back

Laurie Mika, Encinitas, CA - Front

Laurie Mika, Encinitas, CA - Back

Catherine Anderson, Charlotte, NC - Front

Catherine Anderson, Charlotte, NC - Back

Deb May, Burnaby, BC - Front

Deb May, Burnaby, BC - Back

Sherry Springall, New Westminster, BC - Front

Janice Woodland, Burnaby, BC - Front

Janice Woodland, Burnaby, BC - Back

Elspeth Westwood, Sunshine Coast, BC - Front

Dawn Shepherd Nguyen, Issaquah, WA - Front

Dawn Shepherd Nguyen, Issaquah, WA - Back

Kristy Duncan, Los Gatos, CA - Front

Kristy Duncan, Los Gatos, CA - Back

Donna Bain, Sunshine Coast, BC - Front

Donna Bain, Sunshine Coast, BC - Back

A CD

A compilation of music was included in the book in the form of a CD of various artists with songs that have something to do with the moon, the sky, the stars. Thank you Donna.

Memories of a Thousand Moons
How High the Moon
Moon Dance
Shepherd Moon
Moonshadow
Full Moon Glowin'
Paper Moon
I've Got a Pocket Full of Sunshine
Moonlight Sonata
Come Fly With Me
Paint the Sky with Stars
Blue Moon
Fly Me to the Moon

Tonight my wish for you is a perfect evening sky...
the classic one-third moon that is every storybook's illustration of nighttime...
enough stars for you to hand one out to everyone you love,
with enough left over to give you pinhole peeks into heaven.

Karen Dorcas, Kenai, Alaska - Front

My wonderful sister who was there with me every step of the way.

Karen Dorcas, Kenai, Alaska - Back

Deb Cote, Sunshine Coast, BC - Front

Deb Cote, Sunshine Coast, BC - Back

Kaye Jorgensen, Sunshine Coast, BC - Front

Those are postage stamps!

Kaye Jorgensen, Sunshine Coast, BC - Back

Mary Mouat, Victoria, BC - Front

Mary Mouat, Victoria, BC - Back

Nina Thumand, Sunshine Coast, BC - Front

Nina Thumand, Sunshine Coast, BC - Back

The last page. And now you know the 'hearts' that composed this book. A tribute in honour of Jeremy Moon, who will always be with me. Thank you my dear friends.

When The Full Moon... for Jeremy Moon

Look!

Shhhh....

There is a New Moon

A New Full Moon

A Sighing Moon

A Moon Over Water

A Moon Over Treetops

A Moon Over Island...

A Moon

On a New Journey

No Pain

No Purpose

Other than

To Be

A Moon

At Rest

At Peace

A Blessed Moon

Waiting...

A New Day

A New Moon

A New Jeremy

Moon...

With Peace and Love,

Dyanne Gjesdal

July 2010

More Feel Good Things

Watch The Clouds Go By
Sort Photos
Visit A Senior
Take A Walk
Volunteer
Soak In A Hot Tub
Hug Someone
Feed The Ducks
Lie In The Sun
Laugh
Meet Someone New
Swim

more to come....

Feel Good List - 1st dozen with more to come

Eat Your Favorite Food
Read A Book
Play Music
Exercise
Call a Friend
Write A Poem
Listen to Music
Draw
Paint
Visit Your Favorite Book Store
Visit An Art Gallery or Studio
Go For A Drive

me, I'm listening to Amos Lee and sorting through my desk... it feels good and I'll probably manage a couple of more on my list today.

Those we love don't go away. They walk beside us every day.
Unseen, unheard but always near.
Still loved, still missed and forever dear.

I beleive it is love, not time, that heals.

Keeping Entertained in Red Rock Country

As we prepare to leave on Tuesday, I am reflecting over how we spent our time in the past month. Many, many excurions, walks/hikes, picnics and sightseeing trips. We purused every brochure and book in the condo in making our decision on places we knew we had to visit. Then we picked up the local paper, Sedona Red Rock Valley News (published twice a week), on Friday, they include a Scenes section. Once a week a publication called Kudo's kept us abreast of a more indepth look at the cultural happenings in the area for the week.

Movie Theaters

Wonderful World: It was a rainy day and the local theater was offering The Premier of Wonderful World starring Mathew Broderick. The Director and Producer were on hand to view the movie with the audience and an question and answer period with them was provided after the movie. This was the first showing anywhere, including LA. Our Rating: 3.5

The Blind Side: Sandra Bullock, one of my favorite actresses. Another late matinee after a hike. Our Rating: General good entertainment 3.5

Sherlock Holmes: Robert Downey Jr, oh yeah, definately one of my favorite actors and Jude Law, right up in the favorites. Our Rating: General good entertainment with action 4.0

Live Theatre at 'Studio Live'

We discovered Studio Live early in our stay here and it's a good thing. Our 3 trips into West Sedona in the evening were well worth it. Studio Live is a small venue operated by the Sedona Performers Guild. There was a lot of mingling during intermission where you could meet the attendees and visit with the musicians. We can't rate these concerts the way we would a movie, they were all great and the caliber of talent was phenominal.

Fogelberg Tribute: Dan Fogelberg died of Prostate Cancer a couple of years ago and this live perforance was the 2nd annual tribute to Dan's over 150 recorded songs in a 35 year career. Last year the event was held in Gallup, NM. Music Producer, Tim Jessup organized the event in Sedona and performed harmonies and guitar licks with Richard Hardy and Robin Miller who had both played with Dan. Mark Thomas, another excellent musician, played the slide and electric guitar.

Zazu - Gypsy Jass: Ken Aurich, Larry Czarnecki and Steve Douglas wowed us with Gypsy Jazz, Manouch Jazz, Django Jazz, and Gypsy Swing.. call it what you will, it was unforgettable. It was infectious, melancholy, dark and moody, light and upbeat. Two great guitarists and a stand up bass player who glided over the strings without strain. Amazing. And ofcourse, we bought a CD.

Poetry Slam: Holy Wow! The talent was 'over the top'. We have never been to a Poetry Slam in Canada but have had mixed reviews. Would we attend another in Sedona or area in the US? You bet, in a heart beat. We saw 7 artists performing for prize money ($100) so we imagine that these writers/performers have day jobs. For those who don't know, to compete in a poetry slam, poets need at least 3 original poems, each 3 minutes long or shorter. We saw 7 performers compete in 3 rounds. An award winning slam poet and college instructor, Josh Fleming, from LA was there to entertain us between rounds. I won one of his publications/books. The host, Christopher Fox Graham entertained us with his own work and humour. It really was very good. I'd recommend going to a Poetry Slam and we did hear that there are some Canadian award winners but I wouldn't know who or where.

Miscellaneous Events we attended:

Los Albrigados Resort Red Rock Fantasy Christmas Light Show:

Over 1 millions lights in about 2 dozen displays. The displays are by families from the Southwest who are completing for prizes. 1st place was a 'time share' at Los Albrigados. Proceeds also go to local charities and families. Imagine a swan 25" high. Karen, Owen and I went on what felt like the coldest night of the year (and it was windy) and we were dazzled by the show but unfortunately we didn't take as much time as we would have liked, had it been warmer.

Mormon Temple Garden Christmas Lights in Mesa: 'A Drive By' with Uncle Jack and Aunt Pat Christmas Day. It covered a large city block and was beautiful.

Taize Prayer Service at the Chapel of the Holy Cross: A must when you visit Sedona. As I mentioned in an earlier blog the building itself is incredible, but sitting in the chapel in silence and prayer was serene and peaceful. The Holy Cross Choir sings in what is almost like a chant and it is beautiful.

St. Andrews Episcopal Church Christmas Choir Concert: A choir made up of 8 men and 16 women. Good performance of Christmas Hymns. I think we were expecting something along the lines of the choir Owen sings in, the Music Makers, which is alot of fun and performs with more of a variety but we enjoyed ourselves non-the-less.

As you can see, we have not lacked for entertainment as well as many hikes, drives, museums and a few galleries. Our evenings have consisted of reading, blogging, catching up on e-mails, and DVD's. Our days and evenings have also included, with frequency, sitting quietly and reflecting. No art to speak of other than putting together art cards of Jeremy's photographs although Owen has done a little drawing.

As I write this, Owen is outside in the sunshine reading.

THE READING ROOM

The Sedona Red Rock News had an article on The Indie 2009 Best Seller List (American Bestsellers Association). I do not belong to a book club and rely on my friends and published lists, such as this, for good reading material. Although I've read a few of these books, the rest are out there just waiting for me. Thought you might find the list useful, which I'm sure differs a bit from our Canadian lists. You might find a book or two that you haven't read or heard of, or possibly not!

Fiction

1) The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shafffer and Annie Barrows

2) The Shack by William P. Young

3) Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

4) The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

5) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

6) People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

7) The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

8) Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

9) The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

10)The White Tiger by Aravind Adige

Nonfiction

1) Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

2) Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama

3) My Life in France by Julia Child

4) The Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan

5) Julie & Julia by Julie Powell

6) In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

7) Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

8) The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

9) When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sadaris

10) Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

There you have it!

New Beginnings

Getting through New Year's Eve, the Blue Moon & New Year's Day

Our New Year's 'festivities' were non existant this year as we saw out 2009 with sorrow of our loss and hope in our hearts for a new beginning. On New Year's Eve day we drove to Prescott where Owen's Aunt Dorothy use to live and where Owen visited as a little boy of 10 years old. Prescott has changed drastically in the past 50 years. There was little left to recognize but Owen had glimpses of the familiar; the Court House when he rode past on the float that a friend of the families entered in the July 4th parade, the rock formations as you entered the town, and the street named Willow Creek Road. Prescott is 60 miles from the Village of Oak Creek and the drive was lovely. We had a late picnic lunch and watched the sunset over Sedona and watched the Blue Moon rise. We came home, cuddled up and watched the movie, the Soloist. A good movie for New Year's Eve. And then we watched the ball drop in Times Square.

Today we took a picnic lunch and went to Red Rock Crossing. We walked along the meandering creek and viewed Cathedral Rock. They say Cathedral Rock is the most photographed in Sedona. We sat in the sun along the creek and looked up at the majestic rocks and felt at peace. We built a cairn with thoughts of Jeremy.

We ended our day by visiting Exposures Gallery. One of the finest art galleries I've ever encountered and one of the best in the world. We were truly awed by the art.

We are ready for new beginnings.

Closing 2009

New Year's Eve ~ And so Ends 2009

To our family and friends, may all you wish for come true.

Happy New Year!

With love, Owen and Nadine

Photos:

The sunset, Sedona, Arizona, Dec 31, 2009

The Blue Moon Dec 31, 2009 (photo in Kenai, Alaska by Karen)

Meeting a Lady

One morning mid December, Owen, Karen, and I took a stroll in our neighbourhood here in the Village of Oak Creek. Our destination being an outdoor artisans fair. A couple of blocks into our walk, I noticed a little lady that was coming towards us, cane in hand. As we were passing I paused and said hello, commenting on the lovely day. She stopped and we began to have a courtious chat. You know the kind. She was 77 and talked about living in Sedona for the past 17 years and how her husband had driven trucks cross country for a living prior to his retirement. At least 10 minutes must have passed and as we were about to depart, she asked if I liked to read poetry. What was there to say? 'Ofcourse, I read some poetry and would be delighted to take away one of hers.' There was a white business size envelope with a small clothes line type clip attaching the envelope to the chain around her neck. From it she produced a printed one page copy of a poem. Her name was Pat Stull and she wrote it after accompaning her husband on one of his road trips. She said she hadn't gone on many trips with him and this was either the first or one of the first. I realized later that perhaps she had suffered a stroke at some point in recent years.

Below is a copy of her poem. Enjoy. We did.

TRAINEE RIDER

Here I sit in the shotgun seat, western boots upon my feet.

Passing trucks (I think that's neat!) then I call out "All's Clear!"

Straw hat on to beat the heat. Pillows prop up my physique,

To view the scene for my critique, then I call out "All's Clear!"

The overpass is rather low, the driver takes it very slow.

I check the 'stacks' to let him know, that "All is Clear!"

The driver shifts his load to scale. (if overweight, a fine or jail!)

His fifth wheel slides on double rails, then I call out "All's Clear!"

The 'chicken coops' are closed up tight. We rumble on thru the night.

And when that cop car's out of sight, then I call out "All's Clear!"

The drivers backs up to the dock. I jump out and unlatch the lock,

Open the doors and the wheels I chock, then I call out "All's Clear!"

The parking lot is overflowing. The driver has no way of knowing,

If his trailer end is showing, 'til I cal out "All's Clear!"

The driver is the best (I boast) he's always on time - well almost!

I raise my glass and drink a toast, then murmur "All's Clear!"

Quote for today, December 30, 2009

Those who love passionately
Teach us how to live
Those who live passionately
Teach us how to love
Yogananda

Drats!

I uploaded 3 posts at a time and,once again, they loaded in the wrong order. So, if you are interested, be sure and scroll down to catch all of the excitement as I regale you with TMI (too much information) on Ruins, Dwellings and Rock Art. How can you not be waiting on bated breath to read more?

Since I'm posting this anyway, I am including another photo and one more little tidbit. The photo is of Montezuma's Well. It's like no other place in the world. A natural sinkhole, it is 268 feet wide, with cliffs that tower 70 ft. above the waters surface. Fed by underwater vents, some as deep as 56 feet), 74°F water flows into the well and exits through a 300 ft. cave. The Sinagua constructed an irrigation ditch almost 1000 years ago and farmed the land for centuries.

The End of Ruins, Dwellings and Rock Art (maybe!)

Have you ever been to Europe, specifically England, Scotland or Ireland and wandered through and experienced every castle the country boasted, or have you ever been to Rome and visited every Basilica or Museum and Gallery you thought imaginable, well visit North Central Arizona and you will get the opportunity to visit as many cliff dwellings, village ruins and rock art you ever thought possible!

More on Ruins, Dwellings and Rock Art

We visited the areas largest rock art from several different cultures. The Petroglyphs and Pictographs were amazing. Apparently Petroglyphs are rock art engravings and Pictographs are rock art paintings.

Owen has memories of his visit to Montezuma's Castle as a 13 year old and being able to climb the ladders and go inside the dwellings. Not so today. Infact, I think I read that the public could no longer access the dwellings sometime in the late 50's/early 60's. It looked like it would have been a little scarey and hard to believe they would have let the public climb around in them. The Sinagua began building the 5 story, 20 room dwelling early in the 1100's. It stands in a cliff recess 100 feet above the valley. Just beyond the first structure was another dwelling that was once 6 stories with about 45 rooms. They had a whole community happening. One could sit and ponder what life must have been like back then.

A side story: As we approached the last 4 miles to one of our excursions, Owen was most perplexed by the condition of the road as we left the pavement. A sign appeared saying "Primative Road, use with caution" or something like that. Yep, no doubt about it. The only difference is that at home on the Sunshine Coast, they wouldn't have posted a sign. It reminded us of the little road down by Sargeants Bay. You know the one where they only fill the pot holes once a year and then, only if you travel it frequently, would you know they'd been filled.