Baby it's COLD outside!

The temp is only 13 degrees outside this morning!!! The arctic air is coming thru and hope it doesn't stay for long. This picture of my grandson was taken last week at Crater Lake while he and his parents were here for Thanksgiving. I had such a wonderful week with them and they seemed to really enjoy seeing the sights and visiting here in Oregon. 

Below are more pics of our fabulous adventures together:

Walking thru Jacksonville Montana was so good to let Crusoe lead her on the leash

This was taken at Lake of the Woods - temp was in the 50's that day:)

Harris Beach in Brookings, Oregon

In awe of the giant Redwood trees in Stout Grove !!!

I love these grand babies, so thankful for this special time together!

The warm glow of Autumn

Love the warm golden glow of the Autumn colors. My home is surrounded by trees and when the leaves start to change color it reflects a golden glow inside my home as well! Feels very comforting and the seasonal change makes me want to decorate, cook and create. 

Our personal lives each have seasonal changes too, at times it is difficult for me to be in the current season - Sometimes I want to go back to what feels comfortable or jump ahead to what looks much better. I have to do some self talk to walk myself thru the uncomfortableness. Navigating new territory can seem appealing on the onset but once immersed in change it is easy to question myself.

What does all of this mean? For me it is about finding things that I enjoy and appreciate every day in my current season. It may be as simple as a walk thru the trees on the trail above my house. Appreciating friends who share this season of life with me and offer support by talking thru the steps and offering perspective. 

The older I get the more I know there are no right answers or directions that fit everyone and every lifestyle. We each have to navigate our own season our own way. Some choose a wider more traveled path and others choose to forge a new trail. For those who know me well you will read between the lines and perhaps understand more meaning here. More and more I'm learning to let go... Let go of control, let go of expectations, let go of what I thought I knew. It all takes time. One step, one day, one season at a time.

Cherish the good times

My summer has included many wonderful opportunities to play and spend time with some of my favorite people who visited me in Oregon...

                       

                        

                                         

                                                          

                      

                        

And I also spent time visiting in Utah

                                       

Love these special summertime memories ❤

There have been some sad and difficult days recently and as I reflect back on these photos I am reminded to cherish the good times because we never know what is around the corner. Ultimately we are a family and I believe our bond is strong enough to outlast the dark days.

New experiences

One reason I moved here was to have new experiences. I love the opportunity to see new places - especially in nature, for the first time. I've also met many wonderful people in my new environment. I am an extrovert and a home body all all the same time. I actually like my own company. It may sound weird but when I have time to myself I can think and contemplate life and where I'm going. However, when I have been on my own too much I look for things to do, places to go and people to hang out with.

This is one of the reasons I joined MeetUp.com because I can meet local folks while doing activities I enjoy. I am most active in the hiking group but I also belong to a Wine tasting group and Vegan group. This past weekend I met with the Wine group and we toured 3 local vineyards and then enjoyed a 2 hour Jet-boat ride on the Rogue River. It was a beautiful day on the river and as a water lover that was my favorite part of the activity. I also enjoyed visiting the 3 vineyards for the first time. There are many vineyards here and I'd only visited a couple prior to this. 

As my new adventures continue here are a few photos of this weekend activity.

Fun in the sun

I've had a great summer so far enjoying the outdoors and activities with friends. It is fun to see the friendships that have developed in my life over the last year. One of my favorite things here is being able to walk thru town and see people I know who want to stop and chat with no agenda in mind other than socializing. Such a different pace and focus than what I experienced in Salt Lake City. I've also been on some gorgeous hikes with my hiking group in June and last week my sweet daughter and her boyfriend came to visit! Here are some photos reflecting the last month's activities:

One year anniversary coming up

I've been away quite a bit the last couple of months. Been to Utah twice to see my family and just returned from Tennessee this week from visiting my daughter and granddaughters. I've had a lovely time visiting with and spending time with my sweet family. I love them dearly.

(See photos below of recent trip to the Biltmore in Asheville, NC and Cumberland Gap, TN with my darling granddaughters.)

There is nothing like coming home. And this place truly feels like home. June first it will be exactly one year since I moved here. Several people have asked me if I am going to stay... I suppose this is a practical question for someone who has moved to a new place and perhaps deciding if they like it. However, for me, I loved this place before I even got here- sounds crazy you may think but I knew this was home, I could feel it in every fiber of my being and all of my senses. And it feels so good to be HOME!
I am very excited to have family coming to visit me in Oregon this summer! I have guests arriving in June, July and August so there will be lots of sightseeing in southern OR to show my peeps around this beautiful place.

Spring is HERE

There are so many beautiful blossoms right now the fragrance outdoors is positively intoxicating!