Rhiannon Rings Like a Bell Through the Night...

...and wouldn't you love to love her?

Yesterday was my cousin Rhiannon's birthday!

Escorting me down the bunny slope....at age 32...

Escorting me down the bunny slope....at age 32...

You've heard me talk about her a lot over the years.

Here are a couple things I love about her but, you know what I love most about her?

Her Name.  She IS her name.  What a great name.  Did you know Rhiannon is the Welsh Horse Goddess?  Her name means White Witch or Great Queen.

The story of the Celtic goddess Rhiannon reminds us of the healing power of humor, tears, and forgiveness. The goddess Rhiannon is a goddess of movement and change who remains steadfast, comforting us in times of crisis and of loss.
— goddessgift.com

This just couldn't be more true.  Rhiannon is constantly a source of calm.  If I'm really having trouble thinking something through, she's the one I call.  

One of our friends has Rhiannon as her emergency contact on her phone - not her husband - Rhiannon.  Because, Rhiannon will always answer and can solve any problem.

Rhiannon gallops into your life to tell you how to work with doubt. To doubt someone or something when your instincts are giving you warning signals is healthy. To spend time doubting yourself is self-negating and not very helpful. The best way of working with self-doubt is to turn it into self-questioning. Self- doubt leads you nowhere. Self-questioning gives you answers. Do you get stuck in doubt and let it turn your optimism into despair, your confidence into low self-esteem, your vitality into sluggishness and procrastination? Does doubt align itself with your fears to keep you from succeeding? Do the doubts of others shipwreck your dreamboat? Perhaps where the outside world is concerned you need to exercise a bit more skepticism, rather than trusting blindly. The Goddess tells you not to let doubt erode your sacred self. Allow yourself to question rather than doubt so that you can gain the answers you need to continue on your path to wholeness.
— spheresoflight.com

This just couldn't be more true.  Whenever I bring a problem to Rhiannon she always and, I do mean always, reminds me of something I said previously.  She is the absolute best at helping you answer your own questions by reminding you of what you hold important.  She is an absolute doubt smasher.

Also, it's important to note here, that Rhiannon didn't get her name because her mom was a beatnik who loved Fleetwood Mac.  Nope.  Her mom gave her and her sister strong Welsh names that fit them perfectly.

Stevie Nicks wrote her song Rhiannon because she loved her too.

I didn’t write Rhiannon for commerciality. I wrote Rhiannon because I loved her name and I loved her story. I didn’t write her to be sold, she simply is not for sale and has never been.
— Stevie Nicks, BBC One to One, 1989

On that note, I'll leave you with the song that always makes me miss her!

A blazing 1976 performance of "Rhiannon" on the Midnight Special hosted by legendary LA DJ Wolfman Jack. As Fleetwood Mac returns to touring in 2013 only Christine McVie apparently will be missing. Wish she'd make it as well.

Happy Birthday Rhi Rhi!  This year is going to be a good one!

I'll drive your golf cart...for free!

I've never played golf...or really had any desire to play golf.  When my cousin asked me to play golf with him I pretty much rolled my eyes.

Then he said, 'you don't have to 'play' play...you can drive the cart and drink a beer'.  Done.  

sandpiper harrison bc
kindle at the golf course

Let me tell you Nautie Friends, I'm happy to drive any of your carts anytime anywhere.  Do I get to bring my Kindle?  Even better!

I ended up at the Sandpiper course in Harrison Mills, BC. The course was beautiful.  I mean like full on natural splendor everywhere you look.  I don't play golf but I highly recommend this course!

The Time Oregon Won My Heart.

Confession:  my Dad is from Oregon...and most of his family lives there....and I can kinda take it or leave it.  I like to go see them but, I never leave Oregon thinking, 'aw man...do I have to go so soon?!'.  My family has a big piece of land we call The Farm around the Corvallis area.  I've camped at The Farm - hung out at the river - walked through the fields - picked plums in the orchard - roasted marshmallows over the fire - watched the bats come out - but, if you ask me where my favorite hang out is on the West Coast I'll almost always pick British Columbia.  I'll even pick BC over Seattle.

Then something weird happened.  I was driving through Oregon on my way to Corvallis and I pulled over at a rest stop.  As I was getting ready to get out of my car I noticed a trucker wearing a cowboy hat and boots...walking his cat on a leash.  He let me pet her and then told me all about their life on the road.  As I left them to their walk I headed towards the bathroom and realized there was a free coffee stand.  Ummm...hello....coffee and free....love it!  I take care of business and am heading back to my car when I see a woman.....letting her ferret out to play.  Said woman let me touch her ferret.  

man walking cat
stumptown
ferret

I got back in my car and thought, 'Damn Oregon!  You're pretty cool!'.

Why the camp fires, black berry picking, river floating never got me, couldn't tell ya.  Suddenly, every where I stopped / looked I saw things I thought were great.

I pulled into Grants Pass and headed to Rogue Roasters.  It was customer appreciation day.  Win!  I got three backs of coffee for a bargain - where I might add they micro roast their beans!  

I stopped in Portland and walked to Stumptown with a girlfriend.  There were roses everywhere!  Everyones garden was amazing.  Win!

I met up with another girlfriend and we chatted and had fresh eggs for breakfast - like fresh from her yard.  Win!

I hung out in Corvallis with my cousins and had Ahi Tacos and Lilikoi Kamikazes.  Clearly thats a....Win!

Oregon - you're pretty much kicking summers butt.  I'd like to thank you for instilling in me a new found appreciation for your loveliness. 

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

Happy New Years Nautie Friends!

My family had a small fire - and we all put in a piece of kindling and made a wish - and then I was in bed by 10pm.  The fireworks got crazy around 11pm and then I was up for quite some time listening to the booms and cracks and the never ending padacadacs.

I hope you rang in the New Year with style!

fire.

fire.

SEA + HOU

When we left each other last I was snuggled up enjoying a London Fog. Lets catch up, shall we? Thursday (as in last Thursday) I spent the night with Cousin Rhi and her Dude. She made some delicious food. We ate cheese. We drank wine. I know, I know...you're jealous...but this, this my friends is what you should be jealous of:

20130627-174447.jpg

There are really very few times in my life when I've been lounging on the couch in the morning and been handed a cappuccino. With frothy milk and everything. This was one of those times. See...I wasn't kidding. Jealous.

Friday morning I got back on the road. Breakfast with Canadiaunt and then back over the border.

It always blows my mind how friendly Canadian border crossing agents are in comparison to American agents. I always feel like saying, 'I'm American! Let me in! Really? You're searching my trunk?! Maybe I should turn around...'

Anywho. I was on my way to Baisey's house. I had so much fun. I played in the woods. I built fairy houses. I did some crafts. I had some Mimosas. Fun.

20130627-174922.jpg

Is that not one of the nicest fairy houses you've ever seen?!

From Baisey's is was back to Seattle. I met up with AuntE, UncleM and CuzL for some geocaching. Ding! Ding! Ding! Yep, it's on The List! I'll go into great detail about it later. For now, rest assured....it was awesome! Here's a sneak peek:

20130627-175215.jpg

On Sunday I went to church (cause that's what you do when your dad is a minister) and then I drove down to Olympia to visit my Step Bro, Sis and Baby M. First off, Baby M is hilarious. Like actually funny. I had so much fun just sitting on the couch listening to this kid. But guess what we did....I made them geocache with me! I think I'm addicted! Needless to say, awesomeness ensued.

20130627-175538.jpg

Monday found the fam back in the car headed to Cle Elum. We trekked though the woods - Checked out wildflowers and got rained on - Afternoon card games in front of the fire - Bliss. Here's a rare Mountain Lady Slipper:

20130627-175840.jpg

Then poof! Before I knew it I was flying back to Houston regrouping for my next adventure!

20130627-175958.jpg

I had to get these gorgeous windows up on the blog. Hobby Airport you're purty.

After a few days of laying on the couch (ie 1.5) I'm gearing up for more action. I'll keep you posted friends!