Dawn Sellers

Trying to get back on track

I guess it has been quite awhile since I've posted. As usual for me, life has been crazy busy. There has been no art completed by me but I have been busy with artists.

Today marks day one of attempting my nearly 20 mile commute each way via a bike and train combo. I think it may take me a few tries to get my timing and route down. This morning went well except for the realization that I am horribly out of shape. Once upon a time I considered myself an athlete, not today.

I do enjoy being back on my bike and I know my muscles will remember what they are suppose to do soon. I especially like not being in the car and not dealing with traffic.

My hope is that I can get myself back into a healthy mode and use the time to blog, like I'm doing now, or knit.

Catching up . . . . . . again

I feel like I've been running to catch up to life the last several days.  The hours have been passing by so quickly and I have so many projects I'm working on, trying to make progress on; I've been fighting either a bug or allergies so I'm not feeling my best.  Speaking of bugs, I have been bitten by something, spider or ?, twice on my lower leg and it is driving me nuts with all the itching and swelling.  I'm keeping a close eye on it, hoping it doesn't turn worse. 

We were able to get away on Sunday for a day trip to the beach.  I have been wanting to go to the coast for months now.  Pinto hadn't been and I knew he would love it, I'm not sure if Cocoa has ever been to the beach but based on her reaction I don't think she has.  It was a nice day, cool weather, not too windy, no rain and the beautiful ocean.  We went to our favorite chowder spot in Nye Beach but unfortunately, they've changed their menu and while the chowder was still good it just wasn't worth the drive out of our way.  Next trip to the beach we will be searching for a new chowder spot.  We spent most of the day in Lincoln City.  Went to a cute pet store Paws on The Beach and bought Cocoa a little sparkly collar, the collar I wanted for Pinto wasn't his size; and a couple of mini tennis balls for them both to play with.  Yes, the dogs are super spoiled.  We stopped at a few yard sales along the way and shopped a few antique stores.  Visiting with other shop owners that come into our store.  I bought a few little treasures.

Pinto loved helping Doug dig for treasures.  If someone would walk by he would bark at them.  I think he was warning them to stay away from our treasures.  It was hilarious.  Cocoa wanted to be carried most of the time, she kept getting sand in her face and really didn't like that much.  I couldn't get her to look at me for a photo.  She liked barking at the seagulls and watching the kites.

Last night was beautiful.  One of those comfortably warm evenings where you can sit out in the yard, watch the dogs run around and relax with a nice drink.  That is just what we did, well, a little work too.

We are working on a new business idea and are putting together a focus group tomorrow night.  That has taken up some of my time, thinking about it and planning for it.  Brainstorming ideas and coming up with different options.  I love this part of things.  I always wish I could work for a think tank, just sitting around throwing out ideas and "what ifs".  Then comes the actual action part of it.  That is where I need discipline and focus to keep myself going.  I'm much more of an idea girl.

I'm also working on a project with my local art group.  Can't spill too much about that right now but hopefully soon.  We need to get to the action part of that project too!

I have been making some jewelry in between the other stuff and a little work here and there on my art journal.  Business has slowed down at the antique stores the last couple of weeks but that is normal for this time of year (graduations and end of school).  But, there's always lots of work to do cleaning and reorganizing stuff.

Memorial Day Weekend - Over 1,000 miles in two days

It isn't very often we have two days off in a row but it happened.  We decided to make the most of it by taking a road trip to visit Doug's great aunt in Tekoa, Washington.   Going to Tekoa is like stepping into another dimension.  It is a very small town, where everyone knows everyone.  People wave as their cars pass on the road and everyone is super friendly.  Simple times, peaceful and almost unbelievable.

Tekoa is about 40 minutes outside of Spokane, so from Hillsboro it is quite a drive.  But a beautiful drive it is.  I love traveling through the Columbia River Gorge, there are no words for the beauty of it.

We set up the back of our car for the two dogs.  A blanket, their crate, some toys, I wished I could climb back there and curl up with them.  They were perfect road trip travelers.
There was much playing going on.

I have always heard that there are Moose wandering around all over Tekoa.  I have yet to see one no matter how hard I try.  Every time we go there we take a little drive around looking for them.  We did see plenty of wildlife on our trip.  A herd of antelope, four coyotes, 4 deer, a mama elk and her baby, a bunny but no moose.  On one of our side trips we drove to Heyburn State Park in Idaho, just over the border.  This is Benewah Lake.  A beautiful, calm lake and even though it was Memorial Day weekend there were not many people there.

Those mountains with the snowy tops . . . . yes, those are the Rocky Mountains.  We couldn't figure out at first what they were, not thinking we were close enough to be able to see the Rockies but really, what else could they be?  I looked on the map and sure enough, the northern portion of the Rockies.  Beautiful but hard to capture with the camera.

 

This is a just a beautiful roadside scene of farm fields.  This is a crop of Oilseed Rape which we all know by the name of Canola. It is just beautiful to see these fields in the rolling hills, mixed with lush green all around and then that blue sky.

 

The cuteness in the car was never ending . . . .

 

They were worn out by the trip home, lots of sleeping and bribing them with treats and promises of "we'll be home soon".

 

The drive back through the gorge with the sun setting was a great ending to a wonderful weekend away.

Hawaii Wrap Up

We made it back home, safe and sound.  The kitties and the puppy were so excited to see us and we were just as excited to see them.  I'm trying to keep the relaxed and rested feeling as long as possible.  Sticking with the motto:  "I'm still on Island time"

There is truth to that I think, Island time.  Just a slower pace, not trying to do so much, not getting stressed out about things.  I'm really trying to just stay that way. 

The last three days of our time in Hawaii was very nice.  The entire goal of those last three days was to get some sun, swim, lounge by the pool or on the beach and have nothing planned.  We saw manta rays feeding at night off the viewing deck at the Sheraton, we shopped, we took photos (I'll be uploading all of them to Flickr soon), we ate, we drank, we lounged some more.  We did walk around quite a bit, my hip is still feeling it.  I think I'm going to be a cadidate for an early hip replacement.  I don't know what is going on but it sure hurts and was hurting well before Hawaii.  I kept blaming it on the cold and stress but now I'm not so sure.

Anyway, back to Hawaii.  One day we worked our way through various stops for happy hour and had these great nachos at The Kona Canoe Club who boasts the "best Mai Tai in town".  The Mai Tais were good and yes, the best we had in Kona.  A Mai Tai isn't my first choice for a drink but it was Hawaii . . .

On our last evening in Kona we had dinner at Bongo Ben's, sitting up at the front where you could look out at the bay across the street, chairs are lined up along a bar type seating.  Well, the two girls next to us had put out a little sugar to lure this guy closer.  I think the sugar made him drunk, it is like gecko crack, he absolutely loved it and I don't think it was his first time.  This photo is just priceless with his eyes bugged out and his tongue licking the sugar.  I'm kind of like that with sugar myself.  This is one of my favorite photos from the whole trip.

Here we are at the Kona airport, waiting for our flight out to Maui.   Both of us a little red from the sun, not quite wanting to leave, but knowing we have so many responsibilities that are waiting for us.  It was a great time away and we are already planning our next vacation.

These were our drinks while waiting at the Maui airport for our flight home to Portland.  One drink of this and I was so glad I hadn't had one earlier in the trip.  The Lava Flow - a Pina Colada with Strawberries - oh my these are heaven on a tropical island.  I'm guessing well over a thousand calories but oh so yummy.  I will be making my own version of these at home, when I'm ready for some Island Time.

 

Hawaii Weekend

Saturday and Sunday have both been days of complete relaxation.  Lounging by the pool, walking through town, shopping, visiting the farmers' market, eating, drinking, more lounging.  This morning we went snorkeling and saw beautiful fish, Doug saw sea turtles and we both enjoyed the amazing sun.

We just returned from a great prime rib dinner and another nice walk through town.  We love that the condo is just blocks from the main Kailua-Kona strip.  

Tomorrow the plan is more lounging and relaxing.  

This is one of Doug's beautiful photos from the farmers' market.

First Day on the Islands

Yesterday was a long day of travel.  Portland to Honolulu and then on to Kona.

The flights were fine, well as fine as 6 hours in the air can be.

We were at PDX by 6:30 am and made it through security no problem, even the knitting needles!

We decided to start off vacation with - what else?  A couple of Bloody Marys at the Rogue Ale House inside PDX.

When we arrived in Kona it was cloudy but so nice and warn.  It continues to be warm - in the 70's right now as I type this from our condo lanai.  I am looking out over beautiful plumeria and listening to birds, oh so many birds.  We feel like we are in a Hawaiian jungle, trees and birds all around.  Doug took some video with all the birds chattering so I hope to post that once I can figure out how to use the new video camera with the computer.

This was a restaurant just a short walk from the condo, LuLu's, we had fantastic pulled pork sandwiches and the drinks were okay.  But even an okay Mango Daquiri is still pretty good, especially when in Hawaii.  

I'm off to get more coffee and get ready for whatever today brings us.  There's a great wifi connection here at the condo so more posts to come.

Aloha

This morning we are on our way to Hawaii.  I have my camera and laptop so depending on the wifi coverage, watch for some real time updates.

Knitting for the flight and projects I need to finish

I decided to take a small, portable project to knit on the flight to Hawaii.  That is, unless my knitting needles are considered weapons by security and taken away.  Let's just pretend that isn't going to happen . . . . hmmm, maybe I should take some back ups and hide them in my carry on?

The Lace Ribbon Scarf seems like it will be challenging enough, but not too complicated, to work on.  I decided to get a little start on the pattern just to be sure I had what I needed and that the needles would be the right size and all. 

I'm using the Malabrigo sock yarn that I had in my stash (fell in love with this yarn one day while shopping at Twisted and just had to have it) - Impressionist Sky colorway. It is a beautiful yarn and will feel so nice as a scarf.   I really want to knit each night on this baby but I have so many other things I need to finish before next week.

 

 

I have two sets of fabric charms to finish, I'm about halfway done.  I'm needle felting some wool and have one set completed.  The second set are little felted flowers and I need to get moving on those.  They all need to be mailed by Monday at the latest.

I also have two stamps to hand carve for a swap I'm doing.  Those need to be finished by May 1 so I'd really like to have those completed and in the mail by this weekend.  After not having a vacation for several years I know my re-entry will not be an easy one when I get back.  It will be best to not have anything urgent to do right away.

Oh, I do have another charm swap - Crowns - that need to be postmarked by 4/30 so I'd like to have those done this weekend too!  I have an idea for this and all the supplies.  I just need to sit down and do it.

I received my amazing, incredible, words cannot describe how awesome! metal book, back from a swap and as soon as I can find some time to take photos I'll be posting them.  In the meantime you can take a peak at Karen's blog, she has posted the covers of all of the books.  She was our leader for this swap and it was her idea to create this project.

Busy, busy, but nothing to show.

I've been doing lots but I have not photographs to share.  I have noticed the increased minutes of daylight however, and I'm thrilled! 

Sorting Beads, Buttons and Baubles!  Tons of them, jars and crocks and bags.  I have some ideas for many of them and yes, I'll be selling lots of them soon.  First, I have to sort them so I can see what I have, but believe me, there's some good stuff in there.

Continuing to unpack estate items at the store, packed all the Christmas away (yay!) and now the window is full of pastel colored treasures.

My job-that-pays-the-bills has fortunately, been at a tolerable level.  Although gearing up for the busy season again.

I am looking forward to a vacation.  Yes, it is going to happen.  The last vacation we took was 5 years ago.  A cruise in the Carribbean, it was wonderful.

This time we are going to Hawaii.  Kona, where I have never been.  I've been to Maui twice, but never Kona.   Doug bought a week's stay at a condo, which was donated for a charity auction at a local Hillsboro art group.  Now, Hawaiian Air is having some great deals on airfare so I think it's time to book the tickets.

I am looking forward to a week of relaxation, drinks, snorkeling, drinks, sun, drinks, you get the idea.  The problem is, I have been eating whatever I want since last summer.  That means none of my clothes fit now and the thought of getting into my swimsuit makes me depressed.  My focus now is to stop the madness, get back on track and get myself back into my reality where I am eating healthy and can actually fit into my jeans (not to mention that swimsuit).  I have a few months (3) so now is the time to start, which I did Sunday.  I have a strategy and a plan and my will power is revved up.

I'm already feeling better, not so sluggish.  I know all the water helps.  I always feel better when I drink water, so why do I reach for the soda?  And the sugar, that withdrawl hasn't started yet but will any minute I just know it.  Sugar is not my friend, never has been.  I love it, but it makes me crazy!  I want more and more and more!  So sugar, stay away from me and my hips and everywhere else on my body.  Go find someone else.  I'm too busy for your shenanigans.  I'm too busy dreaming about this:

and this  

**I have been continuing to art journal daily.  I'm really enjoying it and while I'm behind the others in the online group I'm just happy I'm doing it regularly.

**Thanks for all the comments on my last post about claiming my creative self.  It is something I have been working on for several years now and finally fell like I'm "getting it".