Bridges & Skylines

Evelyn: A friend in the P3 community passed this weekend - a therapist whose gentleness and low voice served as a beacon to many, many people as they have moved into recovery, healing, change, and rediscovery. I took some time to have a beach walk with him - as I couldn't be there amidst the many who are grieving - and I enjoyed a sunset and internal conversation.  It was in that space that I took pause, and tried to processes several levels to this event. For me, he was a father in the courseroom, a protector, and his illness a difficult look at the challenge I have with things out of my control. Instead, I am reminded by him to be present, as he was in so many moments.

Monica: I told Michael that I wanted to get away to the water this weekend--a lake or a river where I could savor the pleasure of weightlessness and freedom that I feel when I'm in the water. We drove to Auburn and on Saturday afternoon made our way to the North Fork of the American River, where we hiked about a mile to a placid swimming hole where the water was deep and green. We spent several hours on the river swimming and sunning and watching daredevil teenage boys flip and dive off the tall rocks into the deep pool of water below. It was a quintessentially California summer day, reminiscent of childhood summers spent camping in Yosemite.

A Little Story

Monica: My best friend came out to California for five days with her two daughters to visit family and fortunately for me, her family isn't too far away from where I live. Our time together was way too short, but I was happy just to be with her and bask in the warmth of her being. She is such a tender and patient mama and I love how motherhood has only magnified the essence of her spirit that I love so much.

Evelyn: Have been working happily to complete a piece of work. I usually am unsure of my feelings for a piece right off, and it grows on me as I go. In fact, I am never even sure if I am done with a piece and sometimes wonder if there is more. "Is there more?" much like the phrase I use when I am listening intently to the vulnerable open space of another being as they share a story. That is art, but I am both the listener and the storyteller.

Simple Pleasures

Evelyn: I had a few days with my parents & Gizmo, who spent a big part of the weekend on a joy ride in my new car, exploring potential living-spaces. Gizmo is always a joy. He destroys the living room with battered carcases and fluff, then leaves me in awe of the simple pleasures of sun bathing and bird watching. I miss him.

Monica: Another weekend in Sacramento. When we showed up for dinner at our favorite Japanese noodle place, it was packed with diners and there were a half dozen names on the waiting list. We put our names down and found a spot outside to wait. I remembered that I had grabbed a chilled bottle of Chardonnay from our fridge and two vintage aluminum cups from the cupboard to enjoy later that evening in our hotel room. While Michael worked on a crossword, I slipped away to the car to surprise him with an impromptu happy hour. It was a perfect summer evening with the light turning golden, a Sunday New York Times crossword, a glass of still-cold wine, and my sweetheart by my side.

Heat & Rain

Monica: We had a heatwave last week where temperatures in our little valley got up to 116 degrees. The critters have been flocking to the our little watering station we keep in view of our kitchen window. I looked up from rinsing radishes and there they were: Mama Deer, Bambi, and Thumper. At one point, the three of them were drinking together. When Mama & Bambi made their way up to the manzanitas on the hill, Thumper followed. I love this place.

Evelyn: This year we are having a lovely monsoon season, the afternoons filled with ominous clouds and deep thunderous rain. After a few drenching showers, we get pops of sunlight that makes the roads steam. During the evening light I headed out to take out the trash and enjoyed a world sparkling with the remnants of yet another storm. I love the way water illuminates and magnifies the world. Stormy weather...

Towers

Evelyn: It has been a busy week. I get home several hours later than usual. Down tumbles "the Kid," "Let's play chess, mom." We pop in some frozen meals. I hate frozen meals. I hate chess, I can't see beyond my current and possible next move. But Justin gives me pointers, "What would YOU do, Kid, if you were on my side of the board?" And off he goes with several possibilities that it makes my tired head spin. Next thing I know I have him in a slight quandary.  He takes longer to think on it, and I am secretly wondering if he is letting me win, or pure LUCK got me here. My confidence grows, I look at his mane of hair, his thinking eyes, and I love him so much that I play chess. Three more moves, and I am done. My king is defeated. I smile and I announce, "I hate chess!" Yet, he will tumble down again the next time, and I will sit and drink him in, and play a game.

Monica: Most weekends, we head to Sacramento to indulge ourselves in the simple pleasures of city life--restaurants, movies, shops, and museums. We go to the city to get away, whereas most people come to our hot springs resort in the middle of nowhere to get away from the noise and haste of modern living. I need a dose of noise and haste to keep me balanced. This weekend, we discovered a park (Discovery Park, actually) at the confluence of the Sacramento & American rivers. It was a warm summer evening and families were loading up their picnics and their boats after a fun-filled day in the sun. We watched the sky turn to dusk as innumerable skunks scavenged for scraps by the overflowing garbage cans. The evening felt peaceful and the wide expanse of the rivers reminded me of my little town of Fuling in China, where I lived at the junction of the Yangtze and Wu rivers. 

On a Wire...

MONICA: It began with one hummingbird feeder. When Michael saw the feeder filled with hummingbirds, he bought another one. When both were full, he went out and bought a third giant one that holds a gallon of sugar water. Now we are constantly visited by a throng of 10-20 hummingbirds at a time. When the feeders are fully occupied, other hummingbirds wait patiently in the branches of the pine tree outside of our kitchen window or the antenna on top of our house. 

EVELYN: I feel blessed when I am home in time for a sunset walk on the causeway. The sunsets here draw an audience - dozens of cars parked along the sandy edges of the receding water line, couples curled up on the backs of trucks, others on benches, all ages sitting in groups, some waiting for the show from the shallow water off the banks. You will see people fishing, some smoking cigars in quiet contemplation of the messages they find on the horizon. Some stay till the very last breath of sun has left the sky, and others leave when the finale of pink has escaped the clouds and dissipated into the air. I however try to enjoy it from both ends.

Welcome Back

Monica and I have gotten motivated to update a photo a week... this is a huge deal, as I think both of us allowed life to wash us over and found it hard to get back in sync with our blog last year. That being said, welcome back - to us two sisters - and seeing pieces of each others week - and connecting.

Some of our adventures:

Catch Up - Nov 11

Monica: Barking Lot

Catch Up - Nov 10

So Delicious is Life.

Catch Up - Nov 06

Just us folks

Catch Up - Nov 04

Monica: Wilbur Hot Springs

Catch Up - Nov 03

Monica

Catch Up - Oct 31

Catch Up - Oct 29

Harvest Moons

Catch Up - Oct 28

Autumn Festivity

Catch Up - Oct 27

Monica: (this is not Wilbur)

Catch Up - Oct 22

Monica: Moment

Catch Up - Oct 21

Monica: Conversation