14/52: Getting caught up in April

If you are a regular to my blog, my apologies.  Lots of stuff going on.  Plans, parties and trips.  Not to mention life....you know...work, eat, sleep...REPEAT!!!!

It's nice to take some time....a break and then look back at 3 or 4 weeks of photos to appreciate all that is going on around you.

Longer days!  Sunsets on the train.  April flowers!

Time to relax and take care of yourself!  Time to walk.  Time to eat a wonderful meal!

Enjoy!
Stacy

11/52: Last Weekend of Winter

We almost dodged a bullet this year...waiting until the last weekend of winter to let the crud in.

Brian brought back a chest cold from his Socal business trip and I've been battling a lower back issues so we spent the sunny weekend chilling at home and resting. 

Sunday was beautiful and warm so we took a little stroll and ended up having a St. Patrick's Day bloody Mary along Alki Beach.

Enjoy!

Stacy

9/52: Winter Walks

It was a beautiful late winter weekend in Seattle.  Cold and windy, but blue skies for day!

We took two long walks through Lincoln Park and enjoyed epic views of the snow capped Olympic Mountains and the sunlight glistening off the Puget Sound.

Took some time to remember our gratitude and our journey on this planet and how fortunate we are.

Enjoy!

Stacy

6/52: Epic Snow in Seattle

We had an Epic weekend snow event in Seattle the second weekend of February.

If you are going to get 9 inches of snow, let it start falling at noon on Friday!  I can't tell you how fun it was to lie on the couch with my laptop, watching the snow fall.

It continued snowing for almost 24 hours and we had the most amazing blue sky on Saturday afternoon and we managed to walk 6 blocks up to our local pub, which was packed!

Sunday afternoon it started snowing again and we got another 3 inches on top of the 7 inches that fell Friday/Saturday.

On Monday morning, Brian and I walked down to the bus stop and I was able to get down to the Amtrak Station and get to Portland before Seattle got yet another round of snow showers and another 2 inches.

Enjoy!
Stacy

4/52: First 24 of 12

This year, I turn 50.

Let me say that again, so that perhaps it will soak in.

50!!!!!

For the entire year, I decided to celebrate each birth date (24th) by doing something fun and most importantly for me.  It might be a pedicure, it might be a dinner out or it might be going out for a movie and a slice of pizza.

January's first 24th coincided with my long weekend in Seattle as I worked remotely last week.  Thursday night was my train ride north followed by going to the new 13 coins located right at the Amtrak Train station in Seattle.

We spent the rest of the weekend enjoying the sunshine and some time at home for finishing books, decorating the house for Valentine's Day and long walks through Lincoln Park.

Enjoy!
Stacy

2/52: Relaxing January Weekend

Heading into last weekend with so much energy, drive and momentum.

Rode the train for the first time in 2019 on a beautiful winter afternoon with a great book and my new Commit 2019 Journal.

Lots of energy for walks through Lincoln Park and time to prepare great meals.

Relaxed with a 50 minute massage on Saturday and a couple of power naps.

This weekend physically and mentally prepared me for the challenges of the new week ahead!

Enjoy!
Stacy

51 & 52: Merry Christmas 2018 and Happy 2019!

It's hard to believe that the holiday season has come and gone.  It seems like just yesterday that I was planning my Halloween costume, defrosting my Thanksgiving turkey and wrapping Christmas presents.  Time flies when you are having fun and Brian and I certainly had a lot of fun in 2018.  

The last 11 days in Seattle were wonderful, but not without a bit of drama.  We had a sewer line break on Christmas Eve which was not a whole lot of fun.  Thankfully, it was repaired and we limped into the New Year with even more gratitude for what life can bring you when you least expect it and how to handle the chaos when it happens (something I am not good at, but trying to improve on.  Thank God for Brian's resilience).

No resolutions for me this year.  Just more lists, which I enjoy making.  More wants and less needs.  More hugs and less tears.  Time to travel to see friends and family or places that we have never been too (or places we have seen millions of times). Time to listen before speaking.  Time each day to ask yourself the question, "what did I do today that made today special".  Remembering gratitude, just like you remember to take the garbage out on Wednesdays.  It shouldn't be something that you have to search for.  Live like you just have today, because we all know how quickly things can change.

Breathe, stretch, pause and reflect.  Move forward (but just move).  Don't give into anger or fear.  Don't take things personally, and make your word impeccable.  It's okay to be wrong, everyday is a chance to learn something new.  Read more books (my goal is 25 this year) and listen to more music. Dance alone. Wear sunscreen!  Face your face with good soap and wear comfortable shoes.  Smile and say hello.  Remember that you have no idea what someone is going through so try and always be kind.  Practice the art of being silent and remember to have patience.

Be yourself and honor your feelings and above all else be happy and love.

Much Love,
Stacy

44/52: Halloween and Welcoming November

I am finally getting caught up on the blog after an extremely busy few weeks.  My apologies for the blank posts!

Halloween is always a fun event at Rebecca Lane.  Chick and I love to dress up, hand out candy and drink wine.

We bought a few new decorations this year so our house looked awesome.

Over the weekend, we welcomed November by changing our clocks forward and talking a windy walk through Lincoln Park in West Seattle where Brian finally got to test out his new anemometer.

Enjoy!
Stacy

40/52: Still I Rise

A quiet, peaceful dawn followed by grayness and abundant rains brought in bad vibes, general anger and our countries discord.

Fall skies, chilly air and brisk walks were needed in abundance this weekend.

Friends and food began internal healing and the light of a more powerful day.

We must never give up hope.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Still I Rise

BY MAYA ANGELOU

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

Maya Angelou, "Still I Rise" from And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems.  Copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou.