With Orange County as Home Base

It's no secret to anyone that I've tried to leave Orange County. I'm ill at ease with the congestion, the pace of life here, and the fact that the developers always seem to win. It's also no secret that I, or we, since Doug is very much a part of this quest, have not found the house, the place, that says, "Here I am. I'm it. I've been waiting for you. What took you so long?" And, so, we listened, hoping for that voice, but hearing instead, "Make Orange County your home base." And with the acceptance of that, came a partnered sigh of relief and life changed. We began to work on our house, creating what we have always imagined it to be, a process that means we are right now living in a construction zone. But it is a construction zone filled with imagination, hope, and anticipation. And in this re-building, we began to see this house, this little plot of land, with fresh eyes. There are wonders everywhere.

I am delighting these days in sitting in one place and taking photographs. The other day, I sat on the sidewalk, just where it leaves my Outdoor Studio Space and transitions into the Backyard Junkyard. Here's what I saw:

An Opening for the Wee Folk

Fairytales and myths tell us quite plainly of the comings and goings of those wee ones in the night, how they dance in the moonlight and have secret passages into their hidden lairs. I think I may have found just such a spot. Maybe I should leave some cookies? An offering and ask their blessings?

Kokopelli Dancing

Kokopelli, the humpbacked flute player, the trickster, plays to the shadowy realms. Even in the bright light of late afternoon, shadows follow him and all is not always as it seems.

Unseen Cactus

Underneath a mat of creeping weeds, life flourished. In spite of neglect, or maybe because of it, these cactus grew. Like this house, neglected for many years while its people grew careers, other life has continued.

There is a life independent of us in this house and little plot of land and that Life is a blessing.