This afternoon I returned from a short but sweet trip to Maine.

It was from Wednesday night to Monday morning.  There is something about having my feet on the ground in Maine that grounds me.  It feels like I have gone home.  I saw friends.  Not all of my friends but a few.  It was kind of a spur of the moment trip.  It is amazing how just a hug and a short time spent can reinforce and strengthen the ties between myself and those friends that have been there for me for so long.  I went with my son, Keenan. He went for a friend's wedding.  For him to go home was also a big deal after leaving some skeletons in the closet.  I wanted to support him first and foremost.  I visited with him and his good friends and realized that for many of them, life has been a fight.  It has not been a walk in the park.  I am struck by their perseverance and strength and their desire to make it and to have their families behind them.  I am struck by the lack of support that some of them have.   It makes me sad but I admire them.  I loved how they just wanted to talk to me .  They wanted advice and support. I think they wanted the advice of a mother which unfortunately they live without .   I am proud of my son and I think he recognized how fortunate he is to have the support of his family.  

As some of you may know, I am in the midst of a painting challenge.  It is to paint 90 paintings in 90 days ( I have decided that the days that I travel are exempt).   These are very quick studies.  They are painted quickly with a 15 minute commitment.  It really is not about the final product but about the practice.  It is about daily commitment and practice and so far, I am really enjoying it.  I will get back to my larger canvases but working on paper is an interesting change.   Tonight as i returned to my practice, my good friend Alane Downes sent me a message to listen to a song that she heard that made her think of me.  She thought I would like it.   It is called Long way home by Enter the Haggis.  

Wow the lyrics spoke to me as I painted and thought of my visit to Maine.  

"I feel like I've wandered most of my years... If the road is the body, then a home is the soul.   I've seen country and city and I've made them both mine....It's a long way to go, It's a long, long , long way home...  I stand on your front porch staring back at the rain...I guess I should have called first but it's just not my way... A suitcase of memories is what I have to show...It's a long long long way home"  The actual you tube link to this beautiful song is below.  Thank you Alane!

Colorado and Maine are both home to me.  I stand back in the majesty of the mountains of the west and feel gratitude that I was able to go home even if for just a minute.  

Thank you for reading!

With love, 

​Stacia

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Under normal circumstances , i only post my blog on average monthly.  This post comes on the heels of my last post, That which calls your name just last week.  I have continued to consider this issue of that which calls my name. 

Firstly, if you read my last blog post I quoted some concepts about curiosity and passion.  There was a BIG error.  I quoted Brene Brown when in reality it was Elizabeth Gilbert who discussed these issues of curiosity and passion. OOPs.  had to clarify that snafu!

If you don't know about Brene Brown and Elizabeth Gilbert you need to.  They are amazing and you can hear them on Ted Talks or youtube.  

So back to that which calls my name.   As you may have read in my most recent blog post, we spent the summer travelling but did not get to the alpine country of Colorado very much.  When i moved to Colorado at 19 years of age the West grabbed me.  There is something about standing in an aspen grove that for me is sacred.  It is like standing in a cathedral.  Did you know that an Aspen grove is one living organism and the largest living organism in the world is the aspen grove along Kebler pass on the way to Crested butte.  Anyway , this labor day i decided to hit the aspen country.  I invited several friends and several family members all of whom declined. Which was really good with me because i am a lover of time alone.  I headed out with Paddington and Morgan ( my pups), who by the way NEVER decline!

We drove to the Grande Mesa.  This is the largest flat top mountain in the world.  It is only 50 minutes from my home and is like a different world from the high desert in which i live.  There are 300 lakes on the Grande Mesa.  It is lush, cool ( 20 degrees cooler than where i live) and has a little bit of a taste of upstate NY or Maine.  Lots of lakes, pine trees and my beloved Aspen trees.  It is very remote and there are miles and miles to explore on back country roads, remote lakes and fresh cool air.  

I walked for 7 miles in 3 hours.  I smelled the pine, listened to the wind and watched the Aspen leaves as they flutter in the wind like jewels.  It was magnificent.  What i felt most profoundly was that i was at the exact moment when summer turns to fall.  The wildflowers still stood strong and brilliant but the grasses and weeds and Aspen began to turn their brilliant shades of fall.  It was 62 degrees as i started out with my hooded Martha's Vineyard sweatshirt which I soon removed when the sun warmed to what felt like remnants of summer.  The path showed the first signs of leaves falling from the trees.  

I am always trying to find time for painting.  But life is so full of opportunities and the high country has been calling me.  I am so grateful that i took the time to visit this place that for me is so sacred.  To have quiet time with me.  To listen to nature and let it soak into my bones so that as i return to my family and my life as a doctor ( tomorrow morning) and to my studio, i have a bit of inspiration.  My soul is full and I feel complete.  I do believe that this listen to that which calls you is a thing. 

You should try it.  highly recommend.  This long weekend was way too short so as we head back into life tomorrow, may we know what is important .  That we can focus on those things that we hold as essential for life.  Those people. those experiences. those practices and those other important tidbits. whatever they may be.  

with love

​stacia

and to share a bit of what i did work on this weekend.  a work on paper with derwent inktense blocks.  fun!