BIGASSBAGS Are taking over the world!

Well, maybe not the world but at least the yoga community! Yesterday Lisa came home with news that another bag was sold out of the studio. Low and behold the buyer is a Yoga Studio owner from Rhode Island! I was so excited about the news, but Lisa came in and told me as I was sewing up the last of a dozen new bags. So, I may have seemed unfazed by her news at the time. But really, I was thrilled! I will keep you all posted as new details about this exciting news develops! 

Gypsy Heart hasn't been to the local markets lately, as I haven't been physically up to the set-up, but still working on getting my designs in local consignment boutiques. Im kicking around the idea of my own boutique, but it would have to be a co-op. I have one person in mind to go in with...just would need one more....ahhh, but enough of the dreaming....Well, maybe one day!

Learning to breathe...

 breathe 

Pronunciation: \ˈbrēth\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): breathed; breath·ing

Etymology: Middle English brethen, from breth

Date: 14th Century

intransitive verb 1 a : to draw air into and expel it from the lungs : respire; broadly : to take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide through natural processes b : to inhale and exhale freely

Breathe...A simple action...one that is done automatically, like the beat of a heart. Children do it at birth and continue till death. But, it seems at age 43 I am learning to breathe all over again.

Learning from and working with Eryn, at the yoga studio, has taught me that I no longer breathe. I find myself without the life force that we all need to survive. I don't breathe because breathing, some days, just plain hurts. Working on my breath, I find that the sustaining life giving breathe causes pain. I find myself afraid to breathe, but the deep breaths, as I am learning can release that pain and give energy to the body. It is no wonder I find myself with a lack of energy...I deny myself due to fear...fear of the pain. Its funny, as I write this to say those words. Masochist comes to mind. Why would anyone deny themselves the life giving breath? It hard to wrap my mind around the connection we have with our breath. There are so many walls and repression in my mind that its hard to find my way out. But, with that having been said, I do understand the strength of my mind, for the power it holds to block the pain in my everyday life, to me, is amazing.


As Eryn is teaching me, I need to find my breath to release the pain. "Waiting to Exhale" comes to mind. The letting go of anxiety, stress and pain. Letting go.... 


"If I just breathe
Let it fill the space between
I'll know everything is alright
Breathe,
Every little piece of me
You'll see
Everything is alright
Everything is alright if i just breathe... breathe" ~Michelle Branch
"Breathing is how we connect the mind and body. It is often called the bridge between mind, body and spirit. Being aware of the breath as we do yoga, or anything else for that matter, is a way to stay mindful. Think about letting go of whatever is going on. Know that for right now it doesn't matter. For right now you are just going to breathe." ~Eryn


So, I sit alone comfortably, inside the little sliver of warming sun coming through my window and I breathe...

yeah, well, week 3...

This week started out better than it ended, it seems....
Monday was Evans 3rd birthday and I took him shopping and to Fridays for lunch. We had a blast picking out toys and eating dirt pudding...with gummy worms and all. He made me laugh so hard while eating that dirt pudding that I was filled with joy. Thats one special little man.

Tuesday was my first private yoga session with Eryn @ Discovery Yoga. Eryn is a physical therapist and yoga instructor.  I went in  with no expectations, just an open mind. The moves seemed simple enough, the breathing was the hard part. Until we got to the standing positions. Then, my ankle started not liking this yoga thing after all. All week Lisa has been helping me ...and Im trying! I really am!!! 
PLUS, I went and consigned some of my clothing at The Closet on Cordova St. downtown. Before I reached The Closet, Lisa and I stopped into Gabriel's Closet on San Marco...thinking this was where I was going to find Cassandra the owner of The Closet. Low and behold we were in the wrong shop! But after shopping around Gabriele's Closet...we found some real cool jewelry!, I was invited to bring the clothing that The Closet wouldn't take and consign with Gabriele's Closet! YAY! Since The Closet could only take 7 pieces, I have plenty to show the owner at Gabriele's Closet. I had every intention on going by on Thursday but had no time....So, I will be going by this week for sure!

Wednesday found me sewing up BIGASSBAGS for the yoga studio to sell. I completed 7 and they were well received at their debut Thursday at the studio. We also helped Lisa fix the sound system in the main practice room. When we got home Thursday, I slept. I was getting the start of a head cold and it wiped me out. This is why there was no time to visit Gabreile's Closet.

Friday was my usual stint at Rebecca's. Boogie the pup was there (he had been at his trainers last week) and its always such fun to play with my Boogie Baby! Anticipation was in the air...someone special was flying down form up north to visit us...


But come Saturday, the news came that our special visitor would not be coming...confusion, bad weather and broken down vehicles kept our special visitor from coming. I got the news as I was sitting having lunch with my Cyndi. We haven't gotten to spend much time together since this new adventure started. Luckily, she had no work Saturday so we planned on going downtown and having some lunch. We wound up at the little Cuban spot on Avilles St. The food was great, but the service left a lot to be desired....typical of St. Augustine. Cyndi gave me a beautiful pin for my vintage coat and I absolutely love it! I actually found the coolest scarf that matches it....OOOH its soo pretty!
It really makes you feel loved when you receive and unexpected little gift from a friend. Just like the little singing bowl Lisa gave me Thursday for helping with the sound system at Discovery Yoga. ...all the love!...
Unfortunately, while cleaning out the motor home Saturday morning, I managed to do something bad to my left back/hip area. I could hardly hide the pain once Cyndi and I reached Michael's. Grinding my teeth and leaning on anything I could, I felt like such a cripple. Lisa tried doing some yoga moves with me Saturday morning to stretch it out, but to no avail.


It is now Sunday morning...the pain in my left lower back has stretched itself up my whole left side....lucky me....

Oh, and Happy Valentines Day...I love you all!

John Mayer and other happenings....

Well, today is officially a week that we have been living out of our motor home. A lot has happened in this past week both elating and heart-breaking.

Since my last post, Mia, a member of my lil' downstairs family, was hit by a car. I came to love Mia so, because she reminded me of my Dad's dog Chia...name rhymed and all. And Mia, she loved me right back. There's a lot of love in that Lil' downstairs family of mine.

As fate would have it, Mia decided to try to play with a dog  running onto A street. Unfortunately, at that same moment, a local girl came speeding down that street....taking Mia hind leg with her. I cried the night it happened, it seems like a lot of my friends dogs are being hurt or dying...and that breaks my heart....because I don't know what I would do if fate took Pixie from me.

On day six I find myself setting up at the Old City Farmers Market, having a great day. After, lunch at Jacks with Kevin. Sitting in the sun drinking beer and eating the best french fries in town. Then off to check on my lil' downstairs family...and much to my surprise, as I knocked on the door, I heard a little bark from Mia! She wasn't suppose to be home till Monday. I opened the door and ran to her, so happy she was Ok. Many licks and doggie kisses later, I realized that the accident nor the missing body parts had broken her spirit. YAY!!! Mia is just plain bad ass!

Last night, the concert I'd been waiting 2 months to see. John Mayer, my favorite singer/songwriter/musician. All I can say is...it was well worth the wait. He is amazing. I can see why he is considered the "guitar god" of this generation. That, on top of his emotive and honest lyrics make him tops in my book. It was kind of funny, the crowd, I mean...We expected to be completely surrounded by twenty something girls. NOT! Shit I was hardly the oldest one there! A late 40 something couple sat next to us, and young girls behind. At one point I had to turn around and tell them to shut-up! They were doing that sneezy thing and saying sit down. Pissed me off....so I let them know. Then, the forty-something next to Kevin leaned over and said to me, "You go sister, as long as your standing...Im standing with you!" Hell Yeah!! 

More to come as week 2 approaches.....

Playing the GarageMaHal

Well, day 3 found us meeting new friends, Heather and Jill, two cool chickies who bartend the St George Tavern and are friends of Lisa's. After a few Dark 'n Stormy's (dark rum and gingerbeer) we built an outdoor fire and we found ourselves playing the GarageMaHal...(Dave's man shack/office)....drum, banjo, tambourine, cow bell and of course the washtub bass.  Trading instruments and jokes...laughs abound all night long. See what happens when you get a room full of bartenders and former bartenders together in one room! Ba Dum Bump!

The hunt was on yesterday for a lil' ceramic space heater for Gypsy Heart....in this weather she gets a bit chilly at night. Ahhh, but to my dismay, none were to be found anywhere in town. Seems as though all of the stores have sold out and sent stock up north. So, for now the Gypsy Heart is borrowing the GarageMaHal's space heater till one can be found...or bought off Ebay! LOL...No worries though the Gypsy Heart is as cozy as they come! Pixie and Al seem to really love their cozy new home, the little snuggle bunnies they are! We are all happily adjusting to this new lifestyle...with a little help from our friends, new and old. We love you all!

the Emancipation of Gypsy Heart

Well, after a long week of stress, hard work and worry, Gypsy Heart has finally freed herself from a life the conventions of society. Today is day two and I am finally starting to breathe again. February 1st wasn't the day we all expected, Rebecca had double booked herself a house full of people, giving us no where to escape to and adjust to life in the RV.

As the fates would have it, it was the perfect time for Lisa and Dave to step back into my life. A lil' history for those of you who don't know our history... It dawned on me yesterday, after finding out their son , Garrison, was now 13. The reality of it is that I have know Lisa, Dave and G, since the little man was 9 months old. Amazing how time flies even when you look into the eyes of a child. We all met while I was the GM of Shrimp Louies, a restaurant in a marina where they lived aboard their boat "Little Clipper". From that day on, never had I had a better friends. 

We traveled to Key West to live together, then, to St Augustine. Many laughs were had last night as we reminisced about the "shenanigans" Lisa and I pulled every time Dave turned his back...the first was the clandestine trip to Key West. No sooner did Dave leave on a business trip and Lisa and I were in my car conspiring on a way to move to Key West...and that we did. 3 years in Key West, then Dave's need to move for work purposes, with the question posed..."Wanna move with us to St Augustine?"...and that we did. The 8 years in St Augustine had life getting in the way of us being as close as the "old days". But as fate would have it here we sit together on the start of our new journey and chapter in life. Close friends never die, they just float in and out of you life like angels. No matter how much time passes, questions never asked, the past looked without indifference.

So last night, I had Dave break out his pride and joy Banjo...picking and grinning...he got Kevin hooked. Broken thumb and all, trying to pick up the basics from Dave, he did so well! I'm feeling a banjo in Gypsy Hearts future. Then the duet became a trio as I picked up the washtub bass. I had so much fun keeping rythym with the guys...and they said I did an awesome job! I could see myself playing one of those stand up basses...but I digress... Our sound was this funky bluegrass jazz hybrid. I think the jazz was my fault...LOL...laughing, smoking and making music into the night was the best first night for the emancipation of my Gypsy Heart.

I believe its all a good omen...that fate will always intervene when we need direction and great friends will always be there to pick us up when we fall. 

There are no good-byes in Gypsy Hearts vocabulary...only words like, "see you later"... for my Gypsy Heart is learning that there will always be someone there to say...

"Trouble me, disturb me with all your cares and you worries. Trouble me on the days when you feel spent. Why let your shoulders bend underneath this burden when my back is sturdy and strong? Speak to me and let our words build a shelter from the storm. Lastly, let me know what I can mend. There's more, honestly, than my sweet friend, you can see. Trust is what I'm offering if you trouble me." ~10,000 Maniacs

...and that I will be there to do the same....