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Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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#WeekendCoffeeShare Desert Retreat
February 25, 2018
— 4 Comments
DHS, CA
If we were having coffee I would invite you to sit poolside under a shade structure to sip some hot coffee or tea. Today is the last day of my spa vacation at one of my favorite destinations, Desert Hot Springs, California. Join me as I completely relax here before driving back to Tucson tomorrow. This week has exceeded my expectations. The weather cleared to make my drive smooth and easy. I zipped across the desert with almost the entire highway to myself. My room has a view facing the mountains, which I love. It has snowed in the higher elevations, which makes the peaks stunningly dramatic, especially at sunrise and sunset.
My spa routine involves a very early morning dip in the pools to exercise and stretch before the rest of the hotel guests start to get up and move about. It is dreamy to have all the pools to myself while the water is still in the shade. I come back to the water for a couple of hours at the end of the day while the sun sets. I had a couple of spa services, and went to Palm Springs (about 15 miles from here) to go to my favorite restaurant, do a little shopping, and attend an event. This is an ideal restorative break in my mind. I have no agenda, and follow my own personal whims. I have traveled all over the world with groups, family, and friends. Each group experience has a different fun aspect. Solo travel, however, is really my cup of tea. This hot spring, and this tiny funky town, is my ideal place to recreate. I will drive back to Tucson today, stopping on the way to see an old friend who is in Quartzite, AZ for the gem show. This will round out my time off with a touch of social activity. I feel completely refreshed to return to work and household chores tomorrow. This retreat has restored my well being and good mood. My spa retreat is a total success.
DHS, CA
I have been slipping into a very lazy spell with this blog, writing very little. I hope I have rebooted my brain with some new ideas to bring forward during my stay here. I want to get back to a daily writing practice, which I love. I want to write more poetry and some short fiction, which requires time and practice. Taking this time to get perspective has brought to my attention that writing is one of my major thrills in life, so I need to put regular practice into developing it. I have not been to this coffee party for a while, so I look forward to hearing how you are doing with your writing. I hope you have not been in a slump like me. So, join me in the bubbly champagne pool, and let’s order another round of coffee. This is the perfect place to catch up on what is new with you. I have a few hours before I drive home.
#weekendcoffeeshare
Please join this weekly digital coffee feast, hosted by Eclectic Ali. Read write, or add your comments here. Thanks, Ali, for inviting us all to the table.
Desert Wind
February 23, 2018
— 4 Comments
desert colorThe wind blows down from the mountains at daybreak
The treetops sway while birds take off to hunt for prey
The sky is full of wings, soaring and circling above
The small creatures hide in hopes of living another day
We take the water, brew the tea, sip it on the balcony
Nature’s law seems so remote while we live this way
desert color
desert color
desert color
#WritePhoto Dusk Dancing
February 22, 2018
— 9 Comments
Dusk
Dancing while the sun disappeared, under a cloudy sky
We never saw it coming, and were shocked as it went by
Some thought it was a dragon, some saw a giant fox
At first we thought it was a trick of the light, a mirage
The silence covered us like a heavy hanging mystery
We stood on the shore expecting a character from history
To descend on our party to pardon our sins and omissions
To make it all better, to save us, to improve our conditions
We waited in vain for prophecy or guidance to appear
As darkness fell on the crowd, desperation became fear
Down the road in pitch black night the footsteps returned
To home, the safety of the hearth, where fire still burned
#writephoto
This is a response to this week’s photo prompt by Sue Vincent on the Echo. Please join us each Thursday for a new prompt and the opportunity to read or submit your own piece inspired by her intriguing photography.
#WritePhoto Mustard Seeds
February 15, 2018
— 5 Comments
between mustard fields
The path leads through the mustard fields
Breathtaking golden flowers shelter magical beings
Scattering spells, casting dream bait, with tiny seeds
Windy wandering predictions past what we are seeing
Into a future of bold, unprecedented expansion
Followed by a contraction that will teach a new lesson
Mountains may move, and hearts may fill with faith
Still every new sprout must be tended and shaped by nature
#writephoto
This short poem has been inspired by this week’s photo prompt in Sue Vincent’s Echo. Please join Sue each Thursday for a new photo, and the poems and stories from the previous week’s prompt. Read, comment, or submit your own story this week. It is fun to see all the variety in the responses.
New Moon Eclipse, 15 February
February 11, 2018
There is plenty of excitement bubbling up on this New Moon Solar Eclipse at 27° 08′ Aquarius on 15 February 2018, 01:06 PM PST. The Aquarius Sun, Moon and Mercury stellium is closely sextile Uranus, Aquarius’s ruler, adding to Aquarius’s ability to think outside the box and generally stirring the pot. Pushing things even further […]
via New Moon Solar Eclipse in Aquarius, February 15, 2018 — Libra Seeking Balance
New Moon In Capricorn
January 12, 2018
— 1 Comment
This New Moon at 26° 55′ Capricorn on 16 January 2018, 06:18 PM PST in many ways is the culmination of Capricorn season this year. The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Pluto are all in Capricorn! Cardinal earth completely dominates this New Moon with the only outlier being feisty Uranus in Aries. Don’t discount […]
via New Moon in Capricorn, January 16, 2018 — Libra Seeking Balance
#WritePhoto Crow Games
January 11, 2018
— 5 Comments
crow
Our position has been discovered by the crows
Someone left a shiny piece of aluminum foil
On the ground next to the campfire last night
This morning we are surrounded by the curiosity
Of these black inspectors who went through our packs
Looking for treasures they could stash for later
Finding our party lacking in basic bling they demanded
That we surrender the rest of our food to them
Tormenting us with a screeching cacophony of bird anger
They let us know what a tremendous disappointment
We have been to them by pecking out our eyes
The sky went dark just before the explosion
#writephoto
This little ditty was composed in response to this week’s photo prompt in Sue Vincent’s Echo. Please join us to read, write, comment and enjoy different takes on this weekly photo.
#WritePhoto Mystical Window
January 4, 2018
— 10 Comments
winter-roseIn deepest slumber on the coldest night of my life
I was shown a vision with no explanation or key
A window appeared to float above my dreaming soul
It beckoned me to gaze into the unknown to learn
Why our daily lives now are so deeply troubled
Roses, symbols of love and sainthood, bloomed
Still somehow danger and decay very closely loomed
I woke in a cold sweat without a clue to what it all meant
#writephotoThis short poem is a response to the photo prompt this week on Sue Vincent’s Echo. Every week Sue post a new image to inspire writing. Please join us to read, comment, or write your own interpretation.
#WritePhoto Midwinter Moments
December 28, 2017
— 7 Comments
lightAfter work we walked down to the shore to watch the sun set on the shortest day of the year. We were looking for comfort as the calendar told us to begin a new year. The resolutions we made in the past have been leading us to this point. Our point had no point, our days had no joy, and our business had lost a reason to be of service. We had become the victims of habit, impulse, drudgery and slothful thinking. Time had become flat and meaningless.
My sister asked me if I thought we would survive the winter. I answered honestly that I was not so sure we could. When she trembled and asked if I believed in luck and fate I told her I did not put much stock in luck. Fate is another matter, because we can not know our fate. We do fashion our own good fortune or lack thereof when we create our self image. We waited by the water and watched the light of the sun sink into the horizon while I wondered how I could change our luck, in which I had just claimed to have no belief. After dark I whispered to her, “All our needs are easily met.” The moon rose, shining brightly on the path to our home. Our spirits lifted and we felt a surge of bliss. We harvested hope in the night that would last all year. We floated home on a cloud of new optimism.
#writephoto
This short story is based on the photo prompt on this weeks’ Echo by Sue Vincent. She inspires us every Thursday with a new photo to which we respond with poetry or prose, comedy or dark dystopian drama. This group is diverse, bringing a talented response to the snapshot of the moment. Join us to read, comment, or submit your own response here. Thanks for stopping by today.
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