Quail Cottage

Tomorrow morning we leave for our Cottage at Quail Ridge. A few of you have been the there.

Two and a half years ago we bought property in Ahwahnee, CA. It's an area (wide place in the road) between Oakhurst and Mariposa on Highway 49. We bought it primarily for the 4+ acres of long-view high Sierras, but have fallen in love with the little cottage that's on the property. It's only about 750 sq. ft., with a little, separate bedroom. It has a full kitchen and a wood burning stove, full of second hand furniture, and we've equipped it with a/c as well.

At first we thought we'd rent it for the occasional visitor, as we are 1 hour from the Yosemite Valley. But as time went on we realized we didn't want strangers staying in our little Quail. We have loaned it to a few friends, but it's really not for rent. We get over there about once a month. There's a large brick patio out the back door and in the summer we put up our canvas gazebo. It is "meat eater" (yellow jackets) country in the summer, so it's really necessary. Our outdoor firepit is a round table with a middle kettle where we build a fire.

As the evening comes down and we watch the orangy sunset over Deadwood, we have our cocktails on the patio. When it is completely dark you can see more stars, brighter than you can imagine, planets, constellations and sometimes comets. In winter you'll feel a cool breeze coming from the snow covered peaks many miles away.

Two years ago I bought the ajacent 4+ acre parcel with some money I inherited from my Mom. It has 2 rentals on it, plus a pond and fantastic views, as the land slopes downward. It would be an impossible task to count the number of trees on it, from all types of oaks to Manzanita to evergreens. We talk about building on it some day, perhaps a log type cabin. There are many deer paths. We'll see the mule deer, but they are rather shy.

Meanwhile, Patrick has to work until retirement age, a couple of more years. So we enjoy it as our 3 day getaway. It's a 4 hr 45 minute drive from Santa Barbara. We also have a dear friend, Marie Lane (she was our minister at our wedding) who lives in Oakhurst and we always get together while we' re there. If Patrick comes back early I move in with Marie for a while. It's always delightful to see her.

So I'll be back later in the week. Namaste.

In Santa Barbara we celebrate the Summer Solstice with a parade, on the nearest Saturday of the longest day of the year. This year we were 2 days close after. I've just come from the parade -- a visit to childhood fantasy.



Mostly I watched the children watching the parade. The dragons, people walking on stilts waving fluttering bright colored banners, foil wrapped knights sporting cardboard swords, grass skirted hula dancers moving to the deep beat of every type of drum, scantily clad roller skating harem girls, and, lastly, a young lady swaying, balancing on a ring in a huge, plastic bubble. The spirit is light, happy, fun. It felt like a totally painless injection. You cannot help but clap. The children cannot help but dance.



The parade rules are strict. No motorized vehicles, no political or religious statements or themes, nothing at all commercial. Just groups and individuals who want to be a part of the Solstice celebration. The parade ends at a park where the fun continues with music, food and craft booths and more performances. The tradition was started many years ago by a man named Michael who wanted to dance down State Street to celebrate his birthday. He's gone now and God bless him.



Some day Patrick won't have to work week-ends and holidays and can go to these things with me. That would be more fun...



And, if you're reading this and don't live here, visit me at Summer Solstice time and we'll go to the next parade together.



Happy Solstice!!!

Thot I should clarify what I wrote yesterday about my friend, the umbrella, and the dark glasses. It was to illustrate -- and it really did happen -- how our attitudes toward life are so very diverse. Always. We were, I thought, on the same trip. I had a really good time. She didn't. But she's an unhappy person, and it wouldn't matter where we went or what we did. So we won't travel together ever again. I'm sure I annoy her equally, with my upbeat attitude. So it's an -- oh well.

Friend Susan tells me that I stay young by continually trying new things. She's right, I believe. Next on my horizon is a laptop, so I can play when we're away from home, especially at our cottage in the Sierras, which has no phone hook-up.

I forgot to say that I really enjoy biographies of people who interest me. I'm currently reading a new one about Katharine Hepburn, Kate, the Woman Who Was Hepburn, by Wm. Mann. Quite long, quite good, very comprehensive. She and my mom physically resembled each other very much.

Two quotes from The Secret that struck me:

"Beliefs about aging are all in our minds, so release those thoughts from your consciousness. Focus on health and eternal youth."
and
"Do not listen to society's messages about diseases and aging. Negative messages do not serve you."

Ciao for today.

Day Two

I've gotten some interesting emails from friends who say they don't want to (or "maybe later"), or aren't able to create a google account to add their comments to my blog. And, some nice compliments added to my blog. The cliche, that's what makes horseraces, seems to apply here.

One email, from long term friend P., expresses concern that I will only create Hallmark greeting card phrases if I continue along the path I seem to have started, one of POSITIVITY. His suggestion to me is that I include all thoughts and show my diversity. Not to worry, P. and others, I am not a Pollyanna, never have been. But I am trying to lead my life by concentrating on the good, and the beauty. Ugly and negative are siblings that get too much publicity without me. And we know that Thought Creates.

The Glass As Half Empty:
On a recent trip with a friend, the weather report for the day was "partly cloudy, clearing in the afternoon." As we left the hotel to go our separate ways, I chose to bring my dark glasses with me. She chose to bring her umbrella.

The sun came out soon after.

I have an aunt who likes to play, "Ain't it awful?" I no longer spend time with her. You see, I can get into the game w/her too easily, and soon I start feeling depressed and yukky. So my friend with her umbrella just isn't going to play any large role in my life any more. It's that simple.

I'll try to include some reading recommendations from time to time. For those of you who are not familiar w/my reading tastes: I rarely read fiction; I enjoy memoirs; and true adventure tales. I used to read lots of true crime tales, but not much anymore. And the writing has to be excellent, or I physically cannot read it. A few books that I've lately enjoyed very much are:

"She Got Up From the Couch" A memoir by Haven Kimmel
"Tales of A Female Nomad" true story -- didn't make note of author
"Digging For the Truth" archeological adventures, by Josh Bernstein
"The Body Spoken" by Janice Deaner (just read it)

(I get all my books at the public library, and ideas about what I'll like from reviews, browsing at local bookstores, and from friends who know my taste.) (Hint, hint.)
Ta Ta for now.

Today

Hello. This is the first day of my first blog. Since I'm newly retired from a career where I had a strong voice and an ongoing audience of about 150 people, I am missing being able to express myself and my beliefs. I think this blog will be a perfect alternative.

One reason I chose the name of Positively Nancy is because my intentions are to live a more positive life. Of course, "The Secret" is all about this. Having an attitude of gratitude, thinking only the highest thoughts, and surrounding myself with other positive people are what I continually practice. Note the word practice!

I made a second play on the word, positive, because I intend to express myself honestly and generously and with a full heart. I hope to be able to reach out to people with a similar attitude, and reinforce what I have been learning for all these years. I am spiritual, not in any traditional religious sense, and I believe in a higher power, that I usually refer to as God. She/he is a loving, protective spirit who, I believe, has many angels at work. This beautiful world and all its living things could not have happened just by chance.

I believe God is everywhere, in the flowers, in a soaring seagull, within ancient boulders, in our glass of water. In you, in me, just everywhere. Isn't this wonderful?

So, my first day. Whew. It's fun. For now, Nancy