May 14--Friday the 13th in Phoenix

Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries.  --Sister Corita Kent

    WOW, did I prove this quote yesterday. What an outstanding day! I took an Uber to the Japanese Friendship Garden, an oasis of peace in downtown Phoenix. They refer to it as a living art museum, and it surely is. 

    I took another Uber from peace and calm to insanity going to the Arizona Science Center, which was overrun with school kids (nearing the end to the school year). Despite the noise, I enjoyed the place, especially the Earth film at the end of my visit. 

How aluminum cans are recycled--very interesting!

    I don't know if it was the heat or what, but it seemed to me that downtown Phoenix was nearly deserted. In the mile and a half I walked around lunchtime, I saw maybe two dozen folks out. Sure, it was hot, but it was dry, so it was way more comfy than Kansas is at 95 degrees.

Cool downtown artwork

    I had a comfort food lunch at The Kettle Black Kitchen & Pub... mac 'n' cheese (awesome), the best soft pretzel I've ever had, and an ice-cold beer. Does it get any better?

    Then it was back to the hotel for a pre-game nap (even on vacation, yes!) and shower. I can see Chase Field from my hotel window, so it was an easy walk to the game. The stadium is quite cool. The roof was open and the temps were comfortable throughout the game. Alas, once again, upon spending a small fortune to see the Cubs, they lost, 3-4. A bonus treat of the day was the post-game fireworks display. 

The photo proof that I was there 😉😉

    Headed back home, another bucket list item joyfully completed,

        Leta

May 13--Baseball in Arizona

That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great. 
--Willa Cather

    Say what you will about Major League Baseball, I love it. Enough to have spent small fortunes on two baseball tours, worth every penny. Enough to fly to Phoenix yesterday for the Cubs-Diamondbacks game today, then fly back home tomorrow. Enough to pay way over my usual limit for a hotel room. Enough that my best friends think I'm a little nuts. Little do they know... 😉😉

    Tonight's game will give me 25 of 30 in my MLB stadium quest. My s-i-l gave me the map shown below. It's mounted on the wall by my bed, a constant reminder of great trips completed and adventures yet to be. 

    Until game time tonight (which includes the promise of post-game fireworks, woohoo!!), I get to explore downtown Phoenix. My main mission is to tour the Japanese Friendship Garden. Photos to follow...

        Leta

May 12--Outta Here!

Happiness is a place between too much and too little.  --Finnish Proverb

    There's very much wisdom in that quote. The start of this year featured too much staying at home and too little travel. So this evening I fly off to Phoenix. I'm going to the Cubs-Diamondbacks game on Friday evening and flying home Saturday. This was a cancelled 2020 trip with a flight credit due to expire in September, so I decided to just go for it. This will be #25 (of 30) in my MLB stadium quest. I'm staying at a hotel within walking distance of Chase Field, so I will get to explore downtown Phoenix on Friday before the game. I love these solo adventures.  

    Up, up and away! Go, Cubbies!

        Leta

May 11--Get Dirty

They seemed to come suddenly upon happiness as if they had surprised a butterfly in the winter woods.  --Edith Wharton

Gardening is cheaper than therapy, and you get tomatoes.  --Marty Johnson

    Who knew getting grody dirty and sweaty could bring such happiness!!?!?! My gardening therapy this week won't bring me tomatoes--we have too much shade. But it will bring me lovely foliage as I planted 14 hostas around our yard. We'll also have pesto from the pot full of basil plants. While the remaining garden projects seem endless, right now it's looking pretty good. The iris are just starting to bloom. 

    I love my little spot on Mother Earth!

        Leta

Two new giant hostas in the background...
Who, me?!?! A Cubs fan?!!?

May 10--Much to Love

Happiness is anyone and anything at all that's loved by you.  --Clark Gesner

    Good health, my husband, sons, daughter-in-law, developing grandbaby, extended family, many friends, Barney, variety of work and activities, travel, baseball, gardening, golfing, swimming, walking--I love a lot, and I am happy most of the time. 

    Grateful,

        Leta

Barney Clark, Mr. Adorable

May 9--Big Little Pleasures

It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones.  --Jean Webster

    I'm so thankful that I can walk Barney without pain. Before I had my hip replaced, every step hurt.

    My husband and I enjoy relaxing (it's best outside) with a cocktail before dinner to talk about our (usually mostly ordinary) days. 

    Lilies are my favorite flower. I love to cut a few along with assorted greenery and arrange them into a bouquet for my desk. 

    All our married/family life, we have made it a priority to eat supper together at the table each night. Now creating lives of their own, our sons recognize how big that "little" pleasure is. 

    I drive twice a week into farm country to teach yoga and Melt Method at the Clearwater Wellness Center. I love to watch the fields of wheat sprout, grow a bright emerald green, then ripen into "amber waves of grain." It is a reminder of the rich bounty our Earth is continuously providing. 

    Every minute spent with my kids is priceless, even if we are just hanging out and watching a movie. 

    "Ordinary" life is really good!

        Leta

May 8--Flavor

Happiness quite unshared can scarcely be called happiness; it has no taste. 
  --Charlotte Bronte

    Happy Mother's Day to all manner and variety of mothers out there!

    Given the mention of "taste," I'm choosing to write about breaking bread together and happiness. In my younger years, I loved it when our whole family came together at our house for holiday meals. Mom went all out both with quantity and variety of foods. For the Millers, eating was a competitive sport. When the whole family was together, we were fairly well behaved in terms of conversation. Then there were the daily meals including just Mom, Dad and me. Those rest in my memory as times of either nasty fighting or vicious silence. I ate too much or not enough. I was told often, "You'd be really cute if you'd lose weight. Here, eat some more." It's no wonder I developed the extreme desire to eat alone so that I could have some peace with my best friend, food.  

    It was so wonderful to get away from home and learn to enjoy mealtimes with friends. I was able to learn that the priority was to enjoy and share happiness with my dining companions rather than to be obsessed with the food. What a delightful change!

    Happiness tastes better than any food,

        Leta

Family, friends and happiness!
Oh, yes, and tasty food, too!