Excerpts From "My Favorite Moment of the Day" Journal

How I love to write!

I keep a daily diary, a Morning Pages Journal, random journals and a gratefulness diary.

For 2017 I decided to swap my gratefulness diary for a new one I found while shopping one day:  My FAVORITE Moment of the Day JOURNAL.

By now most of us know that GRATITUDE is an intentional appreciation of what you have or what has been given to you.

Several studies show that people who practice gratitude daily are more likely to live healthier lifestyles, improve sleep, lower stress, report more happiness and optimism and even strengthen connections with others.  

But, it seems we're not actually wired to be grateful.  It's so easy to fall into negative thinking and let stress play havoc with one's body and mental attitude.  

I've found it takes practice. 

First, I started with a GRATITUDE JOURNAL.  At the beginning it was tough to come up with even five items, especially if it had been a tough day.  Then it got easier and then so easy that I had to EDIT my list to keep it to "just 25."

When I discovered this journal it forced me to think about "the" best moment of  "this" day--no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it might  appear.  At first just selecting "the moment" was daunting but it forced me to reflect upon my day and recall "a favorite moment."  Here are some excerpts.

Monday, Jan. 9, 2017

A "sweatshirt warm" afternoon with time to be outside to take down the lights and bring in the Cmas decor.

Ken helped me gather up the stuffed animals we set up on the front porch in all the furniture.  We were laughing that our "three" original animals have somehow multiplied!  

It curiously seems that our house is some kind of "rescue site" for homeless stuffed animals!

Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017

Waking with art to create and a day set aside exclusively for ART is a piece of heaven!!  Best moment when Ken outside on the deck with me figuring out how to assemble the new sander while I tinkered with all my found metal pieces to re-design using my slumped blue bottles.

The sun was shining, the work intriguing--and, all was perfect in my world.









Friday, Mar. 24, 2017

Dressed warmly for brisk morning walk and joyfully realized mid-walk that the trail was totally empty of other walkers and bikers!

How energizing and uplifting to have it all to myself!  I could pause--even stop to gaze or take a photo without fear of a bike racing up behind me.

What a wonderful walk!!




Friday, April 28, 2017

So often forecasts are simply predictions that don't come true--and, when they do it's a sweet and marvelous thing!!

And, when it arrives even earlier than predicted I am in AWE!

First, RAIN and then big wet flakes of snow that limited our view to the pond!

A lovely wet spring snow!!!


Thursday, May 4, 2017

Tumi was lying on the garage floor apparently just waiting for me to find "him!"

When Tumi disappeared last Tuesday I was swept with sadness as I had attached it to every purse I carried since receiving it as a "good luck" symbol from Susan upon her return from Machu Picchu.

I loved its symbolism and polished golden sheen!  When I found it missing I was trying to convince myself that "he" was needed elsewhere and to "let it go" gracefully.

And, then, today, here it is!  HOW it got to the middle of the garage floor will remain a mystery.  Ken thinks maybe "he" walked home!

Sunday, June 25, 2017

How wonderful to be at the cabin and take the vintage Honda 90s for a little spin.

Riding them is like a true time capsule for me as I learned to drive on these very motorcycles when I was in junior high!

It's so green and lush.  The sun, wind, drama skies and fresh mountain air all mine!

Saturday, July 15, 2017

When I play the piano it's like saying goodbye to the concept of time.  It's very much like when I am creating art and I look up and surprised a couple of hours are gone. 

I like feeling my fingers on the keys, sitting in a quiet space, creating the best music I can sight read.






Monday, Aug. 21, 2017

Photo by Stephan Morin

Seeing 98% eclipse of the sun today with Mom, Dad and Ken at the cabin, all wearing the glasses Dad got for us months ago and sitting on folding chairs on the driveway.

It was amazing to behold!!

To witness the light change in the yard as the sun disappeared was breathtaking.  

What a solar event to be part of!!


Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017

Returning to a place that we called home for many years is quite an emotional experience.

This portion of campus that is now "Baker Commons" is an area that we both know and love so well.  

As I sat under the tent, grateful for the shade on such a hot muggy day, I was overwhelmed with pride for Ken and so very grateful for those who came to cut the ribbon with us--especially the students.

Monday, Oct. 30, 2017

Duck Harbor Beach at sunset has got to be one of THE most beautiful places in the world!! 

The rosy light, big crashing waves, lots of foam, spray, roaring cold wind--and, all this beauty filling me up to near giddiness!!

As I reached to pick up a stone at water's edge, a sneaky wave caught me in its lacy foam and I laughed scampering to "dry" sand.

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017

The Rescue

Today at GWH (Good Will Hunting) I encountered a yellow paper lion with a messed up clock inside.  The clock hands were bent, the clock battery corroded and it had missing "paper fur."  Quite the battered wall clock.

I took a photo, admired it a moment longer and put it back on the shelf.  As I turned to my cart to continue down the aisle I made a drastic mistake.  I looked back.

Those eyes--so beseeching. "Take me with you," it seemed to whisper.  "You can repair me, fix me.  Heck, you even have hand-made paper you can dye to just the right hue to fix my fur."  And, with that "Leo" hopped right into my cart and came home.


[Author's note:  With the help of my Dad, an avid clock repair person, Leo is happily ticking and keeping time in our home.  Leo was correct.  I did have the paper and paint to fix his fur.  And, he is a joyful clock!]

Leo, the happy working lion-clock.

 Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017

We built a bed today!  Just us and a silly wrench and ratchet-type tool that were included with the frame and bed parts along with a most deceptive instruction manual.

We put the pieces together, step-by-step, re-adjusting, re-attaching, slowly, carefully until by 10 p.m. the new mattress was in the frame and all it needed was the new linens and bedding!

Such tedious work, but we slept that night in a bed WE built!!!

As 2017 draws to an end, I was pleased to find another Favorite Moment Journal in which I can reflect upon each day and recall "that" moment which was so special that it ranks as "the" moment.

I am curious, though, that the emphasis in the 2018 journal is on MOMENT.  On the 2017 cover it is FAVORITE.

This should be fun to explore, page by page, day by day.

Cape Cod - Discovering new beaches!

A cold blustery day awaits on Lewis Bay!

How I love to visit Cape Cod -- this magical island that juts 70 miles into the Atlantic--especially in fall, when one might expect a little bit of everything!!

This trip I held my breath as the pilots managed to navigate through a wild wind-tossed landing to arrive on an unusually warm summer-like day.  Then I welcomed sheets of rain (remember, it's REALLY dry in Colorado and rain is a cause for celebration!) followed by sunshine, pure blue skies, crisp autumn temps which was followed by July-like heat that preceded a tropical depression that brought swirling thunderstorms together that shut down power to most of Cape Cod for hours.

During that storm, map in hand, we navigated new roads to discover beaches new to us and waiting for us alone!  (It might have something to do with howling wind, blowing sand and rain squalls!)

South Beach, a new beach to me, looks toward Martha's Vineyard
and is located in the Mashpee area.

With each visit to Cape Cod, my friend Carol and I explore familiar and favorite areas (which, of course, includes some shopping) as well as exploration of new areas and beaches.

While we have successfully visited quite a number of beaches, there are SO MANY beaches still to be discovered!!

Like snow fences in Wyoming, beach fences attempt to hold back drifting sand.

A winding sandy path leads to another part of South Cape Beach State Park.

A long wooden boardwalk connects the parking lot to the beach.

Hello Tropical Depression!

The tropical depression brought crazy wild winds with blowing sand and crashing waves--even to Lewis Bay and Seagull Beach, normally so quiet on the southern portion of Cape Cod facing Vineyard and Nantucket Sounds.

Had to take a selfie as Carol stayed in the safety of the car and I couldn't wait to brave the elements to attempt to stand on the beach!!

Lewis Bay, near Yarmouth, MA.

Seagull Beach, Yarmouth's largest beach.

Carol is a remarkable navigator.  Armed with an intensely detailed map of Cape Cod (that baffles and stymies me continuously) we persistently try the indicated routes (often barely visible on said map) and with a lot of luck and Divine Intervention, we usually find our intended destinations-destinations often exceeding our highest expectations!

That was my reaction to our discovery of Duck Harbor Beach, outside of Wellfleet, which is the only Wellfleet beach that isn't located on Wellfleet Harbor.  I know, confusing.

A path of powder-fine sand leads up a dune toward Duck Harbor Beach.

Duck Harbor Beach faces out onto Cape Cod Bay and from here one has a terrific view of Provincetown.  

It's been described as the "best sunset beach," and I would agree.  

Our timing couldn't have been better.  We arrived just as the sun was setting and, to our astonishment, had it all to ourselves!

Although tricky to find, Duck Harbor Beach is worth every wrong turn to get here!!

I love the remote beauty of Duck Harbor Beach, especially on a cold, post-storm evening, at sunset where the light turns everything magical.

Duck Harbor Beach, my NEW favorite Cape Cod destination...at least, until my next visit and safari to explore even more.  

In Search of Giants - The Journey

Somewhere in Nevada...

"I take to the open road, healthy, free, the world before me."
        
                 -- Walt Whitman

300 miles into our journey on Day 1, the barren wonderful windswept
moonscape near Grand Junction, CO.

This is a story of adventure, a quest to meet the giants that have called to me since childhood--the GIANT SEQUOIAS OF CALIFORNIA.

Highway 128 near the ghost town of Cisco, Utah.

It is also a story of the journey that combines with the destination to create the complete story.

Therefore, in this blog post I shall regale you with the journey to meet MY GIANTS.  



In my post for my other blog, www.TobyBakerSparklingStories.blogspot.com, I will introduce you to the GIANTS that now form lasting memories and profound influences to my soul.

Following the Colorado River to Moab, Utah, our destination for
our first night.

For the last several months I have been feeling a pull to wander, a yearning for fresh adventures and a need to expand my horizons.  

Without a destination in mind I quietly set aside a couple of weeks in October for "travel," and began to hint gently and then campaign with gusto for the ROAD TRIP we have often talked about but never managed to take.

Shadows from the setting sun on landscape near Moab beckon me to
linger, to visit again tomorrow.

I am so fortunate that Ken loves to drive and has enjoyed every journey  we've taken, so it was an easy lobbying effort on my part to convince him to embrace this new adventure with me.

Now that I had the time and the wiling partner, the question was:

Where shall we go?

"Double Arches," in Arches National Park, captured my
imagination with it's thrilling shape!

With all four directions from which to choose, it can be a daunting task to actually select a destination.

With steady advice, Ken reminded me to consider a destination long on my BUCKET LIST -- 

TO FINALLY MEET THE GIANT SEQUOIAS.

What a magical experience to hike to the rocks and feel the
power of environmental artistry!

It is so easy to get lost sometimes in the bombardment of everyday noise, that when reminded of WHAT DO I REALLY WANT?, the answer is so clear and simple--

But, of course.  It's time.

In Green River, Utah, there are rocks stacked all over
town,  As a lover of rocks, I was intrigued and asked
the clerk at the gas station who the artist was.  The clerk
laughed and said it was a guy passing through who
"got stuck" in Green River for about a year and while
he was there stacked rocks and more rocks
and even more rocks!!!  (If you stop in this beautiful
community be sure to eat at the Tamarisk restaurant!)

With destination decided, the next challenge is:

How to get there?

To aid my course direction I bought a NEW 2018 North America Atlas of the United States, Canada and Mexico.

I like the feel of an atlas and visually traveling along different routes and noting possibilities for additional sightseeing stops.  

I like the way the paper gets folded and creases the spine as one state is completed and the page is turned for another.  

I like running my finger along the designated courses, spotting summit markers, historical designations and names of rivers, national forests,  and mountain ranges.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a true fan of GPS and Google Maps, but what a comfort to have an atlas within easy reach to see WHERE WE REALLY ARE.

We took Highway 14 from Cedar City into Zion National Park--
the "road less traveled" and we were grateful for it!!

We decided on a route that would take us through Colorado via I-70 into Utah so we could see two national parks also on my BUCKET LIST:

ARCHES and
ZION

We have every intention of returning to spend more time in both parks, but what a remarkable and lovely addition to our trip to be able to visit both!!

Ken in front of The Main Street Cafe in Hurricane, Utah, one of our
favorite cafes--and far from the throngs of tourists outside of Zion.

In planning this trip we decided to incorporate two aspects that are not always possible in road trips of any length.


1. Time for off-highway excursions.

2. Eat in local diners and restaurants.

The Mad Greek Cafe, a must-stop in Baker, CA. Where else will you
find a sign pointing to the Mojave Desert in one direction and authentic
delicious Greek fast food in the other??

I am happy to report that, after 2,852 miles, we were successful on both counts!!

I thank YELP for assistance in obtaining restaurant listings, reviews and directions.

I thank crazy curiosity, an adventurous imagination and my darling Ken for off-highway excursions that will forever delight my dreams and memories.

And, I thank internet service (when available) to allow me to research crazy tidbits and oddities that added historical context, better understanding and an enlightened journey.

A 9-mile dirt road off of Highway 6 in Nevada provided one of my most memorable excursions to see my first lunar crater.
Not only was the crater a breathtaking sight to behold, but the pure quiet and beauty of the surrounding countryside was
remarkable and precious.

One of my favorite art installations in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah.

"All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination."
         
                    --- Earl Nightingale

Rainy Days & Wednesdays

Drops cling to my rose bushes this morning.

"Rain is grace;
rain is the sky 
descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life."
                         
                       --- John Updike

Pink and yellow blend in one rose petal.

In a state like Colorado, where on average there's about 245 sunny days a year (marketing reports "300 days a year" but most reports agree it's less than that,) it's a rare and remarkable morning to wake to the sound of rain.

This morning was misty, rainy, dark, overcast--and, one fine day!!

I know, the thrill of liquid precipitation may not hold the charm to those just now digging out from this month's latest devastating hurricanes, but here, where the annual rainfall is 14 inches (the US average is 39) a rain that settles in and is not in a rush to head to Kansas should be celebrated and savored.

The pond lies quiet and still in morning mist.

It encouraged me to brew an additional cup of tea, play "Yoga Radio" on Pandora and read uplifting material for a few extra minutes before considering the tasks ahead.

It's that kind of quiet slow time so often missing in my days, especially in my mornings.

It's officially "autumn" now, thanks to the equinox Sept. 22, and officially open season on more unpredictable weather.

Bright snapdragons add color to my fall gardens.

For instance, we left for a few days away last Thursday in nearly 90 degrees of hot, dry heat.  We returned Monday to 44 degrees and grateful for our new simple thermostats that allowed us to flip over to "heat" without having to research through two thick operating manuals for "how to change from a/c to heat."

A day like this reminds me of the joy in "simple." 

Like time to play the piano, slicing a perfectly crisp sweet apple from New Zealand, surprising a cloud of Monarch Butterflies savoring the last nectar on my Bee Balm and discovering my favorite Netflix series has new episodes--and I have time (or will make time!) to watch!!

Few blossoms remain on my Bee Balm, but enough to lure Monarch Butterflies!

This summer reminds me of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

There has been so much to try to comprehend and make some semblance of sense out of--crazy, unpredictable things like weather events and out-of-control wildfires--and, heart-breaking acts of kindness and self-sacrifice mixed in with deliberate acts of cruelty, bigotry and intolerance.

Missing petals remind me that summer is over and fall begins.

Colors begin their vibrant transition.

Perhaps that's why a day like this is so important--to give pause, to remind one of the cleansing beauty and life sustaining force of one single drop of rain.

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
                       --Melody Beattie


For me, this rain-entrenched day is uplifting to my spirit, reminds me of all I have that bring me joy, encourages me to breath, to find calmness in every day, and to share the best version of me with the world around me.

Raindrops sparkle as they are caught in a spider's web.