2014.12.29 _ 31

Having trouble with the wiki and my photo yet again :-)
Greatful for a quiet morning watching the waves push the ice to shore on the St Lawrence River in Rimouski Quebec :-)

So grateful for this beautiful country I live in. Tall cedars and firs leaning away from the sea, wild wave-swept beaches, loons, seagulls and eagles riding the winds, salmon and oysters to savour. Long walks, quiet reading, scrabble, pinot grigio. Great way to send one year off and begin another. I'm staying in a little fishing village called Uclulet on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Back across the island to Nanaimo to celebrate new year's eve with a big bunch of old friends- then back to home and cats. So grateful for all of this and my ability to enjoy it.

Grateful for keeping seeing each year new "teams" of just of age teens doing the grocery shopping for their first away from home and "only us" new year celebration (usually at someone sea/mountain house). It's so fun watch what they buy and what they forget. Good luck guys and have fun!

A flashback from yesterday's brunch: my 3 years old grandniece dancing with her young aunt in the middle of our living room a little choregraphy they created together, adults watching from sofa and armchairs, babies sleeping blissfully in their father's arms, a toddler crawling on the carpet. With the quieting of the rumble of conversations as their only music, they both started gliding a few steps to the right, sporting imaginary wings, then to the left, turning around very slowly and starting over, the very tall one and the cute little girl, both so graceful and so magically synchronized. edited 22:12, 29 Dec 2014

Thank you for painting such beautiful moments, and posting photos! As wonderful as our years in Second Life have been, crossing the threshold into one another's environments with these lovely photos, even meeting family members... nothing compares.

I seem to be taking fewer pictures lately, in SL and out, but I do have one of my younger daughter during her visit, snuggling our neighborhood's Hemingway cat.

How beautiful is your younger daughter Eliza! Thank you for posting her picture. You must be so proud of her! The 33 days limit is approaching: I will miss this exchange of thankful notes. And I love the cat (a descendant of Hemingway's cats I gather...) edited 23:41, 29 Dec 2014

Indeed, we've almost arrived. Bittersweet, but that's my favorite flavor.:) I guess it is a good time to wrap up these moments into a kind of collective touchstone, reflecting on life's wonders as we cross into the new year soon.

Hemingway House in Key West is full of these wonderful 6-toed creatures. They really are particular - with highly unusual personalities. This cat, Gaby, will stand still in defiance even if a large dog is barking at her closely, but accepts cuddles very easily. Come to think of it, that isn't too far from this daughter's personality too. hah

Your place is so bright and beautiful, Eden. The environment must feel magical for children... I'd probably like to dance there too. ^.^

http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/polydactyl-cats-facts edited 00:09, 30 Dec 2014

sweet space
with a buzz of cat purr
and images dancing

touches of gratitude
wake & warm a few spots
throughout the day

As I lay in bed at 4:37 am awake reflecting on yesterday's grateful moment I realize there's a just arrived cat in the small of my back, under the covers who brought me this awakened moment. Purring himself to asleep, and me into an awakened state, Such is the yin and yang of gratefulness.