Sticks in the park

I admit I am easily entertained. I just can't seem to get used to seeing a boy and his dad walking down a city street, wee golf bag with a handful of irons, headed to the park. There is a designated pitch and putt in a park nearby. I often see folks there, working on their game or having a fun competition among friends or just playing. What shocks me is that they are often using full swings and hitting distances of 150 yards. I love the casualness of grabbing a few clubs and heading to your local park.

Here and there

In May I returned to the Pacific Northwest after being away for a year. I hadn't really thought about how long I had been away until I was headed up Highway 405. Suddenly it seemed like ages since I had been to the NW, almost a bit foreign. It took a few days for that feeling to disappear.

Mother's Day

It is a special weekend. It is Mother's Day (in the States). A time to acknowledge the incredible woman that is my mom. How wonderful it is to have been raised by a woman with such intelligence, style, strength. I am so grateful to have her as a role model in my life. Oh, she has other qualities as well. She has a great attention to detail. I can't even imagine how difficult it was to sew my dance outfits (like fitted velvet jackets with silver trim!!). There was no better feeling than walking on that stage to compete, knowing my costume was impeccable (and comfortable!). She is the person you want on your team in a golf tournament. She can sound like a lion when waking up. I love that in addition to being my mom, she is my friend.


Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! I love you.

Two months in Shetland

The decision to live two months in Hillswick, a town in the north of Shetland, is one of the best decisions I have made.
Staying in a self-catering place that has hundreds of years of history- a barn built in the Eighteenth Century sitting atop buildings built much earlier, possibly a monastery- a barn that has had variety of uses over the years, including housing some of the seals recovering from the Braer oil spill in 1993...
Getting things I need at a local shop which is a short beach walk away and occasional bus trips into town...
Quitting my job and not actively pursuing employment...
Exploring activities I love, especially those that don't fit into a work week...

I'm glad I found a way to make it happen. And while I will be returning to the workforce, there are aspects of the my life from the two months that I intend to carry on.

Hillswick. See the white house (Old Manse) on the ness (peninsula) - looks like it is on the left end of the beach? I was staying in a stone building just to the left of it.

Wildlife sanctuary

What has been the best part of my recent stay in Shetland? Spending time at the wildlife sanctuary. I am tremendously grateful for and inspired by their dedication to the local wildlife and the community.

Prior to coming, I had been following their recent work with helping abandoned and/or sick seal pups and otter cubs via Facebook. When I arrived, I descended on them out of the blue to volunteer. While I have been here, I have spent a number of afternoons at the sanctuary. My intention was to help, put myself to good use. The reality is I have benefited so much from spending time with them, so much more than I have helped.

The release of two seal pups into the wild was a moment I will never forget.