My time in Greenville, SC since September 24th has been absolutely wonderful. Gabriele and her partner Pat live in a sweet small home tucked on a back road across from the state park.  There are a few similar ranch brick homes next door exuding a lovely sense of community.  Pat is a minister of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 5 min. down the street.

Despite their small space, they have welcomed we with open arms to   Even though we are new friends, I feel as though we've known one another for years.  There are certain people and places that  feel familiar that way.  I must also say that I love the warm southern hospitality... it simply has a way of fully embracing you.

Gabriele, my connection with you has been so instrumental.  You are such a fountain of resources and connections!  Being a rainbow connector/networker myself, it feels mighty wonderful to be on the receiving end instead of the extending end for a change. 

Having done a lot of traveling long-distance yourself, I appreciate your suggestion that I lighten my carload even more.  Thank you SO MUCH for encouraging me to do that!

I love these photos of us in your backyard ~
Being in the Moment
Dancing Free
the Spirit of Beauty within and around us!

 

 

 

10/5/12 - I'm now on my way with Gabriele and Harriet to attend a woman's gathering bringing together women (mermaid lovers) in support of a currently running fiber arts exhibition in downtown Charleston curated by Torreah "Cookie" Washington, entitled, "Mermaids and Merwomen in Black Folklore."  What a beautiful and powerful gathering of women (mermaids) and what an extraordinary show!

 

 

It was a pleasure to meet you Cookie! 

 Your fiber work is amazing!  

and this mermaid exhibition is incredible!

Below are a few pics of the amazing fiber art exhibit.  Hopefully they will encourage you to jump in your car and take a trip to Charleston's City Gallery at Waterfront Park.
The show runs through October 28, 2012.

Find out more at www.CityGalleryatWaterfrontPark.com

You blog readers may wonder.....How did I find out about this show?

 Upon arriving at Gabrielle's home in Greensville, South Carolina one of the first conversations that came up was about mermaids, which triggered Gabriele to tell me about the mermaid fiber art show in Charleston.  Most gratefully I received an invitation to accompany she and her partner Pat to Charleston to visit their dear friends Harriet and McIver and amazing fiber artist Cookie Washington.  My mermaid self is so happy to be here!

9/29/12 - Having a great time in Greenville, South Carolina.  The weather is warm and folks are gracious.  Turns out that Gabriele's partner is a minister at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and today is a Renaissance Faire fundraiser.  Oh-goody! The last renaissance faire i went to was about 30 years ago. The day started out slow in attendance because of intermittent rain and clouds, however the afternoon granted sunshine and lots of folks came out to play.  Because this faire was a church affiliated event the energy of family and community blessed it with a wonderful feeling.  Renaissance Faire's require a great deal of work, much planning and many hands. It was a wonderful and prosperous day for all!  Check out the joy on folks faces and the incredible costumes below!

 

As soon as I laid eyes on your witchy hat and saw crow crouched there, that was an invitation for me to crow ("caw") in your presence. And you call yourself Crow Woman!.. synchronicity strikes again!

What a joy meeting you! 

I'm sure glad that you now are the steward(s) of the "Heaven on Earth are One Through Me" and "Emergence" sculptures that I created years ago, and that Ken has "Sacajawea."  It's wonderful to know that they are amongst family and will be used in in your earth loving rituals.

Keep on crowing sistah!

Blog Readers ~ if you find yourself in Greenville, Tennessee stop by Katy's shop (Nyla Beans Gift Shop - Fresh Finds for Free Minds) on North Pleasantburg Drive.  There are a lot of treasures there at reasonable prices!

9/28/12 - Still trying to hook up with Bobby and Arlaya.   I found out that Bobby's working today so I decided to make a trip to Asheville with the hopes of surprising him at his job place, the French Broad Food Coop.

 

                                                                      
Upon arriving at the coop, I was told that he had been in, but then was off at a meeting somewhere. Our trajectories are not quite meeting. So, I shall the day browsing and doddling in downtown Asheville.  It's such a fun place - conscious, artsy and relaxed.  My kind of town.  Lovely specialty shops of all kinds occupy a large radius of streets and the two specific shops that caught my eye before any others were "the Laughing Mermaid" and the "Laughing Seed."  How wild that is given that mermaids and seeds are themes that keep showing up and especially upon this adventure of mine.

The Laughing Mermaid is an adorable shop filled with soaps, oils, lotions and such that all smell divine.  The owner has very cleverly named and bottled her products to seduce both mermaids and merman into her store.  It's a wonderful place to shop.  If any of you readers of this blog entry visit Asheville, do stop by the Laughing Mermaid on North Lexington Avenue.
www.thelaughingmermaid.com

                                          
Global fusion is very much alive at the Laughing Seed. Fresh, complex tastes of Thailand as well as the simple, but intensely satisfying flavors of the Mediterranean and Caribbean.  Vegan, raw, and gluten-free options, all healthful, freshly prepared and delicious.

My kind of cafe -Yum Yum Yum !!!

    Check out this great license plate message?

 

One with the Open Road

Trees, Mountains, Sky

guardians of the path before me

 I bow before thee humbly.

I am loving the beauty and simplicity

open to the unknown possibilities

that lie before me

in the mystery of trust

moment to moment

breath by breath

step by step. 

                                                       10/6/12

10/1/12 - Visiting Bobby, Arlaya and family marks the last of my intended scheduled visits. This trip of mine is surely morphing.  In the very beginning, I had a definite destination in mind - the Pacific Coast of California - specifically Ojai.  Then all of a sudden, Spirit kept nudging me with the message, "it's the journey, not the destination."  What a cliche I thought to myself at first, then the more I felt into it, the deeper I recognized that if I were going to have a traveling adventure, first and foremost I would want to visit dear friends who I haven't seen in a long time.  Friends who I consider to be soul family.  My definition of family is vast.  The universal law of attraction teaches that the energy you put out comes back to you.  I know myself as a fountain of love, generosity, gratitude, caring, inspiration and connection and that comes back to me in a multitude of ways.  As a result, I  connect easily with people and attract beautiful opportunities into my life.  It is certainly one of the greatest joys of my journey in addition to being a mama.

Since my beloved Brevard died in 1999, I carry with me the remembrance that life is constant change and full of unexpected detours and surprises. Being mindful of this, it all of a sudden became crystal clear to me that it was time to embark on a road trip reunion with long time friends whose presence have blessed my life through the years. 

Prior to embarking on this road trip, I spent the last 12 years in Connecticut; the place of my birth where my immediate blood family resides. Clear as day, I felt an energetic doorway open, an invisible hand signaling change, beckoning me to leap into the unknown, a new adventure. On a deep core level, I knew that now was the time. On one hand I was excited and on the other emotionally apprehensive to leave my elderly Mom and Dad behind.  Spirit was quick to show me that without the rootedness, love and support of my close knit family of brother and sisters, I would not be dealt this adventurous deck of cards so to speak.
I abide in the knowing that I am doing exactly what I am meant to do at this time and there is contentment within me.  

Been on the road now 45 days and still on the East Coast!

Thanks to all of you dear friends that I have visited.

Thank you for opening your hearts and homes to receive me

Every visit was precious and continues to dance in my happy memory cells!

Not all my dear friends have I been able to visit, and remind myself to abide in the trust that t all good things that are meant to be fulfilled are accorded in divine order and timing.

9/27/12 - Flat Tire!  Went to get something in my car this morning when Gabriele noticed that I had a flat tire. With a hefty sized screw in my front driver's side tire, I called good ole' AAA who promptly came to my rescue to put on the spare. Thank you Gabriele for recommending that I go down the street to Tuffy's to get it repaired.  The guys there were so nice and took very good care of me.  Turns out to my surprise that I was driving on tires that barely met safety tread requirements; this was
surely surprising given that I was told in Connecticut at my favorite car repair shop that I didn't have to worry about that for a while.  I sure am grateful that the flat and repair was all taken care of easily and was able to get 4 very good tires on sale for the price of 3.   To quote my dear sister*friend, Dancing Green Woman, now my car has 'new shoes' and ready for lots more traveling.