kari & emily

This is Kari.

I first meet Kari in Thailand. We roomed together and on our first night we stayed up talking until two in the morning. Kari has two adopted boys. We had a lot to talk about.

Kari said some things to me while we were in Thailand that I will never forget. On a balmy, tropical night in Asia, we were up late, again, talking. I was lamenting my barren womb. She said, "If you don't feel that you are getting any answers to prayers, it may mean that God is saying 'just sit still, I have plans'." I figure Kari uttered those words to me just days after Amelie was conceived.

Kari is in Carlsbad for a few days on vacation with her family. We got together yesterday and played at the pool. In the Evening, Emily Falconbridge and her family meet us at the beach. I love these two women for the role they played in Amelie's birth and also for the friendship they give me.

Kari's a great photographer in her own right. Baby Ian has been photographed more than the late great Michael Jackson.

We had fattening Mexican food on the beach. Heaven.

Yindi is the cutest little mother around. She was covered in sand but she cried until we let her hold Amelie, in her lap, on her terms.

This here is mischief personified. Notice how the boys were too busy to give me a smile, but Elegant Ivy was much obliged to flash her pearly whites even in her skivvies.

Kari is also a quilt maker. She made Amelie this amazing blanket. I tell ya, there really isn't anything like a homemade gift. Especially a quilt. When I think of all the hours Kari spent on this I want to cry.

I so wish that Kari lived closer. She's a keeper.

Emily and her husband Mic are headed back to Australia in just a few weeks. Emily wants to have her baby there and be close to her family. We are all hoping and praying that they come back soon. Southern California just won't be the same without the Falconbrige family.

thailand- take two

Kimberly, Dona, Kari, Tara, Michelle, Maren, me, Emily, Tami

I got together with the Thailand girls last Saturday. We were minus four. Amy was in Chicago for St. Patrick's. Sabrina is racing on the World tour and the two Aussie chicks, Jo and Clare, for some reason couldn't drop everything and catch a flight to the States for the weekend. We missed them, but we had a blast.

I'm the one in the smashing red macintosh that I got on sale at the Gap for a mere $25. My word, I do love a bargain!

P.S. Did I tell you I'm getting a baby? And my peach tree is blooming.

just call me jane of the jungle

While everyone back home was sleeping, I was trekking through the jungle on an elephant. I thought about Sugar Daddy and the boy and I couldn't catch my breath I wanted them with me so much. While I was feeling the elephant slap my bare feet with his ears, I thought about what a lucky girl I am. All this thinking was going on until the elephant ahead of us decided to pull down a few hulking palm fronds and dump a shockingly massive load of dung. Those things were a little distracting. That, and the bugs were entirely out of control.

The point is I'm really lucky. And I know it.

Sorry this picture is blurry. Thai elephan guy na so goo wit de cameraaaa.

Breakfast

I staked out this spot right away.

Art goodies

And now I must turn the computer off and go to sleep. I have a rigorous day of snorkeling and spa treatments tomorrow. Lucky me, lucky me, lucky me, lucky me... .

krabi not so crazy

This morning I took a short flight to Krabi. The slower pace of life here is tangible. The crazy busy rush of the city has fallen away and the hours here seem to last a little longer. We did art by the pool with pinacolada mocktails. Dinner was served near the ocean. There was a warm breeze that made the torches flicker and we were serenaded by the lapping waves and the soft voice of a man with a guitar. Sounds like a dream doesn't it? It felt like one too.

Here are a few random pics of a few of the sights I've seen so far.

The drawing for the Danita art and One Lucky Baby blanket are still open. Please leave a comment to participate. I'll be drawing names on Halloween.

mango and sweet rice

There is a little something that has been brewing lately. Emily Falconbridge and Tara Whitney are two great artists who conspired together to bring eight women to paradise for a week of art and self exploration. The trip is in October. Somehow, I am lucky enough to be going.

We have formed a Yahoo! group to get to know one another. We are strangers all. Hopefully, our internet chatting will make us friends before we leave for our adventure.

I am really looking forward to the inspiration I can glean from this trip. Hopefully, I will return with boundless ideas for new art projects and jewelry pieces.

Mango and sweet rice is a traditional Thai dessert that just happens to be one of my favorite things on the planet. (See recipe in Cucina Chronicles.) Thai food- here I come.