Morning Stroll

Grateful for another magically beautiful day in the neighborhood…

Morning Stroll

This morning was cool and foggy. It's the type of weather that this area is known for, although we have seen little of it since moving here. The sunny blue-skyed days have far outnumbered the foggy ones, so it was a nice change to have a blanket of gray-white enveloping of for a little while. There's a special kind of calm that settles over the landscape, and it was perfect for taking a stroll through the neighborhood park with a friend. Fresh air, surrounded by majestic trees and shades of green, hearing birds chirping and fluttering and woodpeckers drumming away. I was once again filled with gratitude to be living in such a wonderful place, one that reveals its beauty in so many different ways. I hope to always continue to discover and appreciate this magic.

We chatted, strolled, and collected pine cones for a project at work. A lovely way to spend a Sunday morning!

Abundance

Quote-o-the-day

Back to Reading

Besides picking up our book club selections, I had taken a bit of a break from reading for the past few years. With more time on my hands recently, and a lovely well-stocked library in town, I actually read 14 books in 2014. That's probably more than I read in the past several years combined! Sadly, I didn't keep track of my reads during that time, so I don't have an accurate list between 2011-2013.  But I'm finally tracking my reads again, so here's my 2014 list. As you can tell, I still have a love for YA novels. I know, I know, my reading tastes should be more sophisticated now that I'm older. I should be reading the classics or thought provoking novels, biographies, current events…not fluff. But YA fiction, there's just something about it. The books are such fun, quick, and enjoyable reads that I just can't help it!

2014 books

1. The Cuckoos Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling)

This was a book club selection. Most of us are Harry Potter fans and were curious about the book JK Rowling wrote under a pseudonym. It was fairly enjoyable, but was nowhere close to the epic HP world. A little slow at times, and a tad predictable, but not a bad read overall.

2. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I really liked this book and have been recommending it to friends. It has a strong and likable main female character and an interesting storyline. I just wish this was turned into a series! Although there are two other books in the "Graceling Realm"--Bitterblue and Fire--those can be read as stand-alone stories and do not feature Katsa as the main character. I would love to hear (read) more from Katsa.

3. Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

An adorable short and very quick read by the quirky Neil Gaiman. Yes, I would recommend it!

4. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

I'm a little on the fence about this one. It has an interesting premise and wasn't a bad read, but I don't know, I just didn't love the writing or storyline. I enjoyed it for what it was, but don't think I liked it enough to recommend to others.

5. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

This totally hooked me at the beginning but started to fall flat as the story went on, I wish it could have kept the momentum. Not bad overall though, I enjoyed it well enough.

6. City of Bones: The Mortal Instruments Book 1 by Cassandra Clare

I enjoyed it enough to be intrigued and went on to read the second one.

7. City of Ashes: The Mortal Instruments Book 2 by Cassandra Clare

I didn't enjoy this next book in the series enough to continue on. 

8. Matched by Ally Condie

Underwhelmed by this book, although it seems to get fairly good reviews. I think it was a little predictable and reminded me of other dystopian worlds I've already read, including Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

9. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

This book kept me engaged and was a page turner. Although I didn't like it as much as Graceling, I still enjoyed this read.

10. Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Really loved this book and would totally recommend it. Likable characters and just a fun read. Plus, how can you not love it when it has such a great title!

11. Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

Along with another great title, the second book in this series was just as enjoyable as the first. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the third book, Waistcoats and Weaponry!

12. The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

I loved Ann Brashares' "Sisterhood" series. Although this book doesn't quite reach the charm of the sisterhood stories, I enjoyed the time-traveling element in the plot.

13. Atlantia by Ally Condie

Underwhelmed by this one too. Not much to say about it, but it was good enough to finish at least!

14. Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card

Very different from Ender's Game, but wonderful in it's own way. Speaker for the Dead was such a page turner, I kept reading because I had to know more about what was happening. I really liked the writing style and how story slowly unfolded. 

And, for the list of books I didn't finish. These are the ones I tried reading, but just gave up partway through. They were that bad... 

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Feed by M.T. Anderson

4 years...

I was just re-reading a few of my posts labeled signs and realized that the two stories I told were about things that happened 4 years apart. For some amusement, I decided to look back to see if I posted anything 4 years ago today. I still believe in signs after all, and maybe there would be some significance in the post. And you know what? There was a little gem from December 14, 2010. Tuesday morning reflections was the perfect message to reaffirm that signs do exist, that small miracles happen every day, and that life is beautiful.

A year living on the Central Coast...

The first few months was an adjustment period, being in this strange and beautiful new land. I couldn't quite get used to it and felt more like a visitor than one who belonged here. I was lost without my maps app. It was soooo cold all the time. I still missed my old job and volunteers. And I only had one friend close by!

Okay, there were many positive sides to being here too. It just took some time for me to adjust, to be able to navigate around town on my own, to embrace the cold and enjoy the quieter lifestyle. And then…the feeling weaved its way and settled in ever so slowly, and it finally felt like home.

A year (gasp! already?!) has passed, and I have come to adore this new place that I call home. I feel truly blessed as I sit and reflect on all the beauty, abundance, and amazing experiences that have filled my life over the past 12 months...

We live in a cute and cozy place on a quiet street in a quaint neighborhood--it's in the perfect location, within walking distance to downtown, Sean's work, our local state beach, and the walking/bike path along the bay. The kitchen is spacious and adorable, we often see deer in the driveway, and I sometimes hear sea lions from our living room. Such a pleasant difference from the noise, hustle bustle, and urban-ness of Southern California. I love the calm quietness and that I can see stars at night...

I get to enjoy breathtaking scenery every single day...

I've been able to experience and volunteer for some AWESOME things, like counting monarch butterflies, helping tag them for research, and teaching school groups about them. The tide pooling down the street from our house is great, and I've found some pretty cool creatures. I also get to help rehabilitate rescued sea otters, interpret about them at public events, and learn how otters in the wild are tracked for research. Sean and I have also volunteered at Esalen Institute's farm and garden a couple of times, it's so rewarding being outside overlooking the Pacific, doing physical tasks and working the earth.

I've been able to craft more often. I get to try new recipes, to bake and whip up home cooked meals almost daily. And I've been reading more lately, it's so nice to reconnect with my love for reading.

I'm so happy to have Big Sur as our stomping grounds. It's only an hour away and is easily accessible for camping, hiking, explorations and adventures... 

This day, last year...

I cried many times and said goodbye to so many people and things. Coworkers, volunteers, and friends dear to my heart. A place I started coming to during my high school years, when I was seventeen, and where I continued to volunteer and work at for the next 15 years. Almost half of my life was spent there, so many memories, and it was bittersweet to say goodbye to it all. I took this departing photo of my desk (the cleanest it had ever been!) just as a little reminder of the hard work that I put into a job and place I loved so much. This day last year, I closed one chapter of my life and started a whole new story...

Today, one year later, I was blessed with this gorgeous sunrise on a morning walk with an old friend. 

And I got to meet Bee, an African blackfooted penguin.

It's a very different life from the one I led a year ago, but such a wonderful one indeed. I'm grateful for it every single day! 

Morning Stroll

New discoveries in the neighborhood. 

Gratitude

Beautiful sunset walks.