Satyagraha

One of my favorite scenes from the epic Gandhi, is when his wife and foremost devotee explains to his newest student, that Gandhi took a vow of chastity. Three times. Then finally, made a silent vow, and kept it. When the students asks if he broke it, his wife replied "Not yet :)"

I feel very intimidated by public vows. I completely admire bloggers such as the Reluctant Ashtangi, whom I read daily, who are able to find a deeper personal practice through documenting their progress, and holding themselves publicly accountable. I think it is a measure of my self knowledge that I do not hold myself to rigid expectation, for I know my personality, my past, and how I want to conduct my future. I never want to become dogmatic or closed minded. That said, I also am lazy, and need some discipline!

So perhaps you will see me around these parts a little more in the future.



"Satyagraha is not predominantly civil disobedience, but a quiet and irresistible pursuit of truth"

Fueling my addiction

I signed up for my very first sock knitting class for 2011. From what I hear, they are where the addiction truly sets in. The ultimate in portability and functionality, who doesn't love a squishy, soft pair of socks, eh?
*above images from the Yarn Harlot

The Harlot herself, Stephanie Pearl McPhee rants about the kind of crazy I can only dream of. She hired an assistant to organize her fiber ROOM. She giggles about border crossings with spindles and laps full of wool. (She frequents the US with her Canadian posse of yarn spinning, knitting cohorts)

For those of you who don't know, my current life plan is to end up on a farm with a goat, sheep, and all the berries I can eat! (raspberries, blackberries, salmon berries, huckleberries... they all grow completely wild up here.) So fleecing, spinning, plying, knitting, crocheting.... all of that is in my big plan. Of course the farm would have to be close to Portland so I can manage my yoga/cafe next door to Trav's brewery/bike shop. Oh the places we'll go.

And because I  can't resist sharing some of my other blog obsessions...

Thrifty Knitter

Leethal Knits

A Life Worth Living

{heirloom tomato from montavilla farmer's market}

Thank you sunshine! Summer tried to pretend it was over, making us think that the Pacific Northwest would officially have the shortest summer EVER. July 4 to Labor Day? Is that even possible? Fortunately this week has been gorgeous, however... I spent it all indoors! But if its for yoga, you know I don't mind :) Just head home and collapse into the hammock and thank my lucky stars that I have such amazing people in my life.

This was the last weekend of my yoga teacher training, and although we still have a few things to wrap up, it's sad not to have that 3 day weekend of yoga yoga yoga to look forward to. But it has completely changed my life, as you might have read about. This summer created a complete intolerance to staying indoors, chained to a desk for 8 hours at a time. My heart spoke so clearly, and through the journaling that my teacher recommended to track our meditations, reflections, etc. I was completely unable to ignore my true path any more.

Today I started my new job as an assistant teacher for an afterschool program! Its right in my neighborhood, the kids are adorable, and I love to be there. I also worked on my portfolio redesign this morning. I'm not ready for summer to end, but winter brings the space for hard work and that is exactly what I am ready for! Travis and I spent the last 2 years dreaming of our escape, to Thailand, India, farms and oceans, but eventually came to the conclusion: A live worth living must begin at home. We quit our desk jobs and started dreaming in our daily lives. Who knows what adventures await us! Its only when you open your life to opportunity, that fate can lift you up and carry you away.

{my bolted endive rises above the leafy goodness}

{can you believe this zucchini vine?}

{massaged kale salad}

{pink sprite. a clear winner in the shade garden bed}

Ahhh Jenny just brought me a tequila sunrise to cap off a long day's work in the hammock.
Thank YOU.
For we are all connected. We are never alone. We are never forgotten.
Namaste.

*As always, click on any image for more details!

Someday I'll Fly Away

However, this week I will be working on my roots. Friday is my last day at work. Making the decision to leave my job has been the most exhilarating, scary, reckless and amazing decision I have ever made. Every move I have made in my life thus far always involved a calculated safety net. This time however, is different.

I have no job lined up. My portfolio is pitifully out of date. I can barely look at my resume before getting fed up and stomping away from the computer. This would explain the dearth of posting here, my inability to upload photos of my garden, adventures, and fun fun things. Everything in me is rebelling, trying to escape the 17 inch glowing screen. My body wants to open, not sit: stagnant for hours upon hours. Freelance is a possibility, since that would hopefully open up my office to hammocks and sunny parks surrounded by my fellow goofy Portlanders who can't stand to be inside during our glorious summers.

That is why my only gig lined up is teaching yoga! (Which you already heard about of course)

I want to get my hands dirty. Play in dirt all day. Brew some coffee, smile at children.

I believe that if I take this leap of faith, my dreams, my passions and desires will flower. Opportunities will present themselves. And I will have the freedom, the space, the grounded roots to be able to accept.

So this week I am grounding down. Finding my source of strength. Then flying free.

images via weheartit
*that first image reminds me of a fellow yogi friend's work: UpRoot by Stevee Postman

rosy posy day

As the cat comes in to wake me from my slumber, I open my eyes to the canopied peaks of my darling bed tucked away in a secret attic bedroom.

{mark roper}

While the sun rises, I take a long soak in the tub to start my day.

{city sage}

After  preparing hand picked eggs and fresh goat cheese I'll read the paper in the east facing sitting room

{living etc via city sage}

After indulging the mind,  I'll adorn the body with whimsy and color

{rosy posy designs}

I'll walk down the path to my little red barn where my loving animals reside.

{ashley g}

Checking in on the new spring chickens, perhaps taking a few photos of them in impossibly cute positions.

 {angelandspot}

A nap must follow such an entertaining morning, so I retreat to the orchard for a sun dappled rest.

{withoutmelissa}

Then perhaps a dinner party with a few of my closest friends

 

{a cup of jo}

then off to sleep...

and dream of riding the subway in our underpants

 {color me katie}

hello today

This moment reminds me of a recent stop travis and i took as we got lost somewhere off highway 5, searching for a perfect yoga stop.

{sarah kate via - frolic!}

My darling is embarking upon a brand new career of bicycle building. What a perfect city he chose for us to rest our heels. This has led to fits of day dreaming about a cross-continent bike trip we will take, bike mechanic tools in one hand, camera in the other, and yoga all the way. Canada to Argentina and everywhere in between. Then perhaps catch sailboat home. Perhaps I should become a sailor to engineer that part of the adventure. {more details soon!}

I spent a lazy weekend practicing with our fancy camera... learning to love the Aperture - focused setting (if that is what it is called!) I do have the manual, but haven't peeked at it in a while.







It fills my soul to dig in the dirt, playing hide and seek with big fat earthworms. Phoebe quietly joins me at my side, curious for a moment, then silently moving on to a sunny spot to warm her fur. That's Jenny in the stripes, she joined me for a little photo session in the backyard.

I planted strawberries, chard, dill, cilantro, carrots, turnips, arugula, wildflowers, cucumbers and zucchini. Yum!