Round We Go A-Merry

What is it about a carousel that makes us giddy, giggly, and a-kid-again excited? The music? The lights? The brightly colored animals take flight to the calliope, soaring up and down, round and round, while we squeal and laugh and wave to the strangers as we sail by. For a moment, the forward motion of the merry-go-round carries me backward to girlhood, to carnivals and Coca-Cola glasses, 6 balls for a quarter, and lemon shake ups. And all is right with the world.

This is the newly unveiled carousel at The Living Desert zoo in Rancho Mirage, a magical place that may just be between the worlds. I sat astride the bejeweled zebra, and squealed and laughed and waved to the strangers as I passed by.

Hopes

So, I don't make resolutions - too much pressure and so very cliche. Instead, I have "hopes". This year, my big hope is to develop my Etsy shop KiKiBowns to it's fullest potential. That translates to more inventory, MUCH better pictures, and rewrites of product descriptions. Community outreach - approaching various locals shops about product interest. More craft shows. Once I have done as much with it as I feel I could, I am opening another shop: wakethemoonmuse.etsy.com. As a diversion to all of those clutches I made for the holiday season, I started knitting wintery accessories - cowls, wraps, fingerless mitts. They were a hit, and I almost couldn't keep up with the orders that came in from my show. So, why not? A wider market and lots of fun! Plus, I like the challenge of creating in new and different ways.

I hope to read more. I was over a dozen short on my 52 in 52: I think from all of the damn knitting I was doing for the holidays, and I could only take so many books to Africa.

I hope to do more yoga (yogahhhhhh). It's all a matter of finding the right class at the right time. I am stronger than I have been, well, ever, and I hope to challenge myself more during my gym time. Perhaps now I don't need to modify as much. Come on, knees, you can do it!

I hope to spend more time with friends and family. We are planning a trip to Chicago in June, and I hope to see as many of my friends and relatives as possible then. And, meet friends that I actually haven't really met yet (in person, anyway).

Lastly, I hope for inner peace and balance.

It's A Wrap!

Yes. I've been absent for a while. Much busy-ness, life lessons, humility, and sincere heartfelt gratefulness. To wrap up the old to welcome the new:

a re - entry into the familiar, and re-adaptation

illness, hospitalization, recovery

knitting, knitting, knitting

worry, worry, worry

rejoice

a validation of art, and success

blessings of friends and family

hopefulness

May you all find joy, peace, health and humility in the New Year. Hold your friends and family close. Be well.

Doors

I've come to the realization that I have a fascination with doors. I love the mystery, the mystical possibility of a doorway, the something wonderful awaits one on the other side.  It's the Alice in Wonderland of it, the what's - behind - door - number - one of it, the path to another dimension of it.

These were all taken on Goree island, best known for its role in the Atlantic slave trade. According to John, it represents a perfect example of French colonial/creole architecture. Gorgeous, breathtaking, and magical.

Door, where you been, door?

 

Beauty, beauty, beauty, beautiful

This is Khoutoum Ngor, a pilgrimage site at the farthest point west in Africa. Pictured is the cave where the Layenne, one of the religious orders that John is studying, believe that after the prophet Muhammad died, his spirit settled here for 1000 years. At night, his spirit would travel the world in search of a place to be reborn. The Layenne come here annually to celebrate the start of their Order. There is a lighthouse here that the French built (not pictured) which the Layenne believe that the French were guided by God to build. The French built it because ships were crashing into the cliffs, but the Layenne claim it represents the light of the spirit of Muhammad.

More of the locals

Yes, the camel is sticking it's neck through the cage. Good thing he's friendly. Not much for cage maintenance, these Senegalese.

Meet the locals

We took a trip to the local zoo. It has been "upgraded" since the last time we were there.  Last visit, the cage bars were wide enough for the small monkeys to slip through! It's small, but the animals are fantastic. The chimp was quite entertaining. He would sort of strut around and turn somersaults for the crowd. He would also make rude noises until someone fed him a piece of fruit. The cats were gorgeous; intimidating, but I couldn't help but feel unhappy that they were caged.  They would roar and pace for the crowd, especially the lions.  D. took a stuffed monkey of his that looked just like the caged ones. He would show it to the live monkeys to see the response. One looked and looked at it, then showed it's teeth! The other hung onto the bars and reached for it in a sad, sort of longing way. We stopped teasing them after that.  My favorite was the turtles. I just love them. Of course, did we get a picture? Nope. Pooh!  The bird pictured here was just flying around - the pic really doesn't do it justice. It had an indigo/purple irridescence to it. The odd thing? Both rabbits and pigeons were caged. Yes, pigeons! We had a laugh about that. What would a Senegalese think upon a visit to Chicago or New York?  We saw baboons, hyenas, camels, ostriches, hares, porcupines. There was another kind of primate that would catch the peanuts tossed to it.  Unfortunately, there were only one or two signs naming the animals, most were unmarked. I'll post more pics at another time, both to keep y'all coming back, and because it takes so long to load the pictures.

 

Ba beneen yoon. Yendoo ak jamm.