Pure Inspiration

Dinner at the family table.

Sometimes a visit with old friends is enough to renew my spirit and give me a jolt of pure inspiration.

My old friends David and Julee were some of the first people I met when I moved to Cambria in 1983 and opened Heart's Ease. We shared so many of the same passions and interests, friendship was inevitable.

When Noah and I decided to move to Cambria, they pitched right in and helped transport furniture, big pots of plants and trees, and more to my new home. They helped me feel like I had a family.

David and Julee and their fabulous daughter lived in a tiny trailer while Julee taught and David labored on their amazing tree-house home over a canyon. He built every inch of it, and he and Julee furnished, decorated, and filled it with life and love. But, you don't need more words about them. You need to see some photos of little vignettes found throughout their home.

The hand painted chairs at the family table say "Eat," "Drink, "&" "Be Merry."

Family photos and meaningful words–"We do not remember days...we remember moments."

Julee said, "You always had chalkboards with poems and illustrations when you had your shop. So this little menu board is a tribute to you." 

David is famous for his caesar salad. Delish.

"Julee says I use too much pepper, you do it, Sharon."

This is the creative Julee–mistress of the house.

A small, but wonderful guest room.

A desk in the guest room.

Even the bathroom has artistic vignettes.

This is a paper nautilus atop the jar.

You can see how important the natural world is to David and Julee.

Another collector of heart shaped rocks.

And, on to the hummers, who are quickly outgrowing their tiny nest.

Their first rain. Look at how their feathers are growing. No more porcupine look.

I was about 5 inches from them when I took this. I don't have a fancy camera, just a little Canon, which cost about $135. I had a reader write and say that I must have spent a bundle on my camera, but I didn't; it is just a matter of patience and stick-to-it-iveness. I'm not lucky with the shots; I keep trying.

Look at them looking at me...are they precious or what?

Back to work on my book now. Slowly but surely, just like with the photos, I keep trying.

All joys to you,

Sharon

P.S. The winner of Ivette Soler's wonderful new book The Edible Front Yard is Susan Freeman of Ash Tree Cottage. Susan is also a member of the Grimy Hands Girls' Club, so she will also receive an extra gift surprise. Congratulations Susan (and Bentley).