Arcata, sweet Arcata

Hello again folks,
Ahhh..... is the sound of my heart on this lovely sunny north coast morning. They tell me it's winter and people are dressed as if this is the case, but I am not convinced... the high yesterday was 60! After catching up on sleep and hugs, I am most happy to be here! Yesterday Noelle came home from South Dekota. Rosie made the most amazing vegan carrot cake with orange cream cheese icing... mmmm. We all celebrated No-ey's b-day by piling into a hot tub 'neath some little redwoods at Cafe Moca (which was cozy, there were 6 of us). Then we went back to Noelle and Taton's place for some banjo pickin', story tellin', and driftin' asleep on the couch. Before all of the birthday celebration, I got in a nice redwood run, sigh, it was so powerful to return to this forest again. Light does not flood the floor (even in the winter) like in the eastern deciduous forest.... it comes down in beams from unimaginable heights, quite majestic. Without fail I always feel so tiny under those trees. I was happy to come to my favorite hallowed out tree... I think it has been claimed by a squatter (there was a rotting sleeping bag in the bottom of it) so I didn't stay long, but it was great to be there. There's nothing more quieting to the soul than a redwood forest. Yesterday I also visited CCAT, even the old buckhouse (which I had never been allowed in before because of construction)! It was great to see some changes and I was surprised that my morning prayer was still on the wall in the bathroom and a postcard I sent on the fridge.

In short, life is good :)

Thankful list:
-Arcata hugs! (once described to me by Sean Armstrong as "just a bit longer than you're comfortable with, and somehow fuller too")
-redwood trees and forests with trials calling me to run on them
-music to jam to: June Carter Cash, India.Arie, Dar Williams, Jack Johnson
-thank you notes-how they help remind me to be grateful
-sunshine! spring! in January! How I needed this!
-goal setting in the morning
-honeybush tea
-wildberry granola
-vanilla rice milk (yum!)
-putting life on pause (the overwhelming part, that is)
-the exercise contest my family is having
-Rosie! For her hugs, welcoming ways, snuggles, cookin', singin', laughin', and understandin'
-Noelle! That she has the same haircut as Glen and me! That she's back and let us celebrate her birthday with her
-CCAT, for bringing me out here the first time and creating this little R&R place for my heart
-for stupid videos on youtube (I'll confess)... They have kept us rolling with laughter
-lists
-homemade quilts with geese
-lavendar in a bunch in Rosie's room

ps-I can't post pictures yet, the blogger website is down, but as soon as I can I will :)