this year has been something like this...

mmmm...

times 12

there used to be a street leading up to this house...

yes, this house is now only accessible by boat. mainly due to drilling, louisiana is losing land at a rate of approximately 100 yards of land every 38 minutes

Christmas day we went to visit our cousins who live about 45 minutes south of new orleans. it was a beautiful day and about 76 degrees, so we went for a boat ride in the waterways leading to the Gulf where i witnessed several houses like the one above.

we also saw blue herons, brown pelicans, osprey, egrets, and flying fish... thankfully no snakes or alligators were spotted.

visiting the dead

as a kid i never understood why tv shows always buried the dead in the ground...

this is one of my family's tombs

yoga with mom

New Orleans

my view during many conversations

many times, i sit in my car continuing a phone call from the drive home. as i talk i regularly stare at this view (usually sans snow). these conversations have ranged from light and funny to heart wrenching; as i glance up on any given day and see this view, sometimes a portion of conversations-past pop into my head. on this day, the juxtaposition of the light snow and the barbed wire caught my attention enough to take a photo.

waiting to sweat...some more

waiting to sweat

snowing in seattle

surprised, elated, humbled, and so much more!

So very thankful for the experience to demonstrate, the push to improve my practice, and the opportunity to expand community.

always doing laundry...

The Mindful Practice of Gratitude

Thanks to the introduction from Saiko, my friend and instructor, I have been regularly practicing a meditation of gratitude for the past year. This is a meditation where one mindfully considers all the parts of life for which to be thankful. It is not meant to dismiss the struggles of life, but rather amid the suffering, remind oneself of life's gifts.
On this day I would like to share some of my practice with you:
Components of my life I am thankful for:
my family and the close relationship i have with them,
my friends, both near and far, both old and new
the safety of my friends overseas
the reciprocation and compassion from my family and friends
my cat and her reminders to be present and to slow down
my yoga practice and the community that comes with it
my health
my mind and mindfulness
my apartment and neighborhood and the feeling of home it provides
living in a city that is environmentally conscious
my camera and Photoshop and the hours of creativity it has given me
always having good and healthy food for me to eat
realizing my weaknesses and having the courage to face my fears and grow from them
my job
my laptop
my ability to see good in people
the ability of others to see good in me... and the list goes on.

Thank you for reading. Happy Thanksgiving.
E

Eagle Street

walking on Eagle street at a perfect time of day... i smiled all the way down the street

i know, but i liked it anyway

some "junk mail" are good reminders

sunrise x 2

i didn't tweek the color




today's surise blew me away....my fellow drivers on I-5 were not very pleased with me

smiling

full of foie and other yummy dishes

we will miss saiko while she is away

"like a flower petal blooming"

seeing what's behind me in a different light

homage perhaps

"...the only thing from keeping you from happiness is the belief that you are alone" -- last episode of Mad Men

Haven't been taking many photos lately... it comes in waves i guess

stand alone and bright

caviar, scallops, foie gras, veal sweet breads, cod, squab and chocolate...

city park

lazy mississippi

some of my favorites

the levy

some patterns are best seen from a distance

silly

not happening lately

...more to come soon.

lunch with a friend ...and a duck