"A THANK YOU SONG FOR BEING KIND TO ME"

Two weeks later... It is Thanksgiving Eve and I have three places to go for the holiday. The first in the morning at the Seventh Day Adventist Church for brunch and games, the second at the Presbyterian Church for turkey fixings (both I found in the area's notices) and then, after hearing  that I am an orphan in town, my yoga instructor invited me to her home. That is so nice. I have only met her twice in class. Yes - yoga class. Patt is taking some yoga classes and actually likes them. Will wonders never cease? Diana reminds me of Mrs. Claus and I love her cheerful style of yoga.

OTIS R. JOHNSON PARK, FORT BRAGG, CA

So you are reading and I am writing and therefore I survived my stint as weekend innkeeper. (See the last post). All went smoothly. I did start to feel TRAPPED and tethered to the property though. The owner forgot to tell me how to forward the inn's calls to my cell phone so that I could freely roam around part of the day. Oh well, no matter. She is back and I am no longer the innkeeper. And also now I am not allowed to do anything except bookkeeping. Oh it is not that I didn't do a good job. Quite the opposite. I am of the highest value of the helpers and the logical angel from above (or actually the east coast) to get the books organized.  If we had a plumber, carpenter and tile setter on board we could all compete for the most valuable helper of the week. The inn is big and old and needs work.

MONTGOMERY WOODS, UKIAH, CA

What am I doing exactly? The owner has more or less forbidden me to help out with any tasks involved in repairing and maintaining this place. My 24 hours a week in exchange for accommodation can get eaten up easily by activities that any other unskilled helper can do. This is good but sometimes difficult. I see them overloaded some days and I want to help but I can't. I am getting OK with it as time goes on and I had wanted a routine. Now I have one, It is of my own design and it comes with the freedom that I need to be happy. If the sun is out so am I. I am out and away from the inn discovering new places and taking AMAZING photographs. I arise at dawn before everyone else and I get a few hours of work in before heading to the gym or cliffs and beaches or redwood forests. Later in the day when the sun is near to setting I come back and do a bit more work in Quickbooks. It is a new software for me but easy. All those years in my own sole proprietorship filing schedule C's and categorizing things into a Chart of Accounts is coming in handy again. The inn owner is getting a fantastic deal. This room is marginally ok but certainly not worth my going rate. It does serve us both though as it gives me a place to bunk while checking out the area and couchsurfing over the holiday season isn't the best.

JUG HANDLE STATE RESERVE, FORT BRAGG, CA

Anyway... I am going to cut this off here and post some nifty photos shot this last week. I am dabbling with the idea of another photographic book. I am not making mandalas lately. I feel as if there isn't enough time during the day. I get to a magic place and then the sun starts to dip in the sky. It makes for fantasful lighting but limited time and I don't want to be out in the woods or on a cliff in my personal ART ZONE and lose track of time.

Time is fleeting...

I want to wish everyone a wonderful, happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Big Hug and Kiss from the Holiday Orphan.

And fro your listening pleasure "Here's a Thank You Song" from Liv Taylor circa 1970... Enjoy!