Girls, we need to talk!

Ok, this is going to be a girly post and for those of you not interested, I've posted some photos we took on a recent trip to Denver, Colorado. Daniel's dear aunt passed away, to whom we were both very close. So, it definitely was a bittersweet visit.

The sweet part was seeing family and friends and being in beautiful Colorado. We miss living out West so much!

Now to my post. I know some of you are too young for this, but some of you have already gone through it and I am hoping for some of your humor and wisdom.

I seem to be entering peri-menopause (yes, The Change is happening) and feel like I am traveling through a strange and confusing land.

Actually, I am reminded of the strangeness of my teenage years, when everything seemed so dramatic and out of proportion. Now that I am older I know that it's only my hormones messing with me ~ back then I really thought my world was ending about five times a day.

Here's the strange part for me. I suddenly feel so emotional and actually fragile. I had to miss the last two episodes of Downton Abbey (a show I love) because it was just too sad for me.

I just want to hole up at home where it's cozy and quiet with some tea and my knitting. Everything else seems too much for me at the moment. It's bizarre! I've always been the strong one. The one to whom everyone tells their problems.

What is happening?! Ok, I know what's happening... But how long will this last?!

The weird part is - I know it's shifting hormones and not the "real" me, but still it's happening.

Don't get me wrong, I'm quite happy - I just have to be way more cautious of what I do and read and watch. Right now, I cannot watch the news at all and so I don't. I can't drink caffeine (it makes me anxious), so I don't. It seems to take more effort to maintain my equilibrium.

All in all, it's not bad, just totally unsettling.

As to painting, I haven't painted in days, but know I'll get back to it. I am knitting a lot and cooking quite a bit. And reading. And spending time with Daniel and our pets.

It's also a little explanation of why I am blogging so haphazardly these days. Life seems sort of haphazard at the moment.

Still, I love blogging and am so appreciative of you all!! Being connected to you makes my journey so much more joyful!

❧ Silke

From the Road

We made it to Albuquerque...and immediately drove on to Colorado to visit some family and friends! Here a few pictures from the road so far...
The two pictures above are from the plane looking at the Rio Grande Valley.
We had dinner with some good friends who have the most amazing vegetable and fruit garden around their little house in one of Albuquerque's pretty old neighborhoods. It's amazing how much produce they get from cultivating this fairly small garden!

The next morning, Daniel and I had breakfast at our favorite breakfast place in Albuquerque - Flying Star. We were going to sit outside under the huge cottonwood tree, but it was actually a little too chilly!



The next photos I took on the gorgeous drive from Albuquerque to Denver.

With our Prius rental car!





Now we are on the way to Fort Collins and then the Jemez Mountains. It feels wonderful being back in the southwest, and we are both surprised how much this still feels like home to us!

I'm sorry I don't have time to visit your lovely blogs, but I'll do so as soon as I have a little more time! In the meantime, thank you for coming to visit here!!