What I've been doing this past week ...

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Haiku Friday & Sky Watch
Scenic & Shadow Shot Sunday

1. writing LOTS ... just for the JOY of it ;-)
2. culling, labeling, organizing, and sharing photos from my trip to Taos with retreat participants
3. connecting with friends & neighbors back home
4. pulling weeds in my yard
5. I ate breakfast at Mimi's Cafe yesterday and got 4 free muffins with an email coupon ... replenishing my 'stash' in the freezer
6. listening to the Successful Author Secrets series online and taking notes to help myself stay on track
7. following up with helpful resource links
8. doing my best to remain calm ... avoiding a sense of 'overload'
9. generating lists of things I want to do and need to schedule
10. walking on the beach with (and without) Molly ... just for the JOY of it!
11. getting lots of rest ... catching up on missed sleep
12. reading ... just for the JOY of it!
13. creating a plan for my future ... just for the JOY of it!

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rainbow appeared on
our last evening in Taos ...
lovely sight behind

Mabel Dodge Luhan
House & Conference Center
... delightful mem'ries

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Scenic Sunday and Shadow Shot Sunday

Thought for Today
"Aim for service and success will follow." Albert Schweitzer

I'm back from Taos, New Mexico ...

... transitioning gradually from the space of 'retreat' to that of 'real life' ... filled with gratitude for the many blessings of this journey ... Just for the JOY of it!!!

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This morning I'm grateful for ...

1. 'lessons' learned during my week at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House & Conference Center
2. pieces of writing I generated during the past two weeks and intend to share eventually
3. rich encounters with lovely women & writers while there (in addition to those I met along the way to and from New Mexico)
4. delicious Santa Fe meals prepared by the talented 'staff' at MDL
5. the beauty of nearby Henningsen Gardens as lovely in 2010 as it was in 2007
6. the resonant energy of Taos & MDL still in my heart, mind & body
7. gaining some clarity & focus for writing I intend to do & share in the days, weeks, and months ahead
8. a myriad of supportive resources to explore & put to use
9. discovering the El Rey Inn in Santa Fe ... a 'destination' for many vacationers from all over the USA
10. literally HUNDREDS of photos to cull, label, organize and share!
11. discovering the Dance of Shiva ... learning how it allows our brains to dissolve old & create new patterns of thinking
12. the company of Molly & Ms Kitty here by the beach in Southern California
13. a ready willingness for whatever comes next ...

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For those who may be interested in a bit more info, I've updated my Gratitude List in the sidebar of Small Reflections and will share more soon (both here, there, and a Happily Retired Gal)

Early morning view
of the Taos 'classroom' where
we met for a week

Gradually sky
brightens as the sun rises
beautiful clear day!

Click the photo below twice
because the white circle is the full moon
and the dark spots are large ravens in flight ...


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Thought for Today
"I love the sweet smell of dawn -- our unique daily opportunity to smell time, to smell opportunity -- each morning being, a new beginning." Terri Guillemets