Winter in Whitefish

Growing some roots.... and maybe some shoots....

It's been two weeks since we've pulled into Whitefish and we're feeling nicely settled. The little house we found on Craigslist is straight out of our manifestation- fully furnished, warm and bright, with character of its own and room for us to do our thing too, with hardwood floors (and radiant heat!) perfect for cultivating our yoga practice! It is slowly feeling like home as we scratch our heads and begin to comprehend exactly where the adventure has led us... wondering a bit why we're so far from our friends and family.... and agreeing that there is no doubt that we've ended up in a VERY vibrant place, with more than meets the eye.

Last night we sat in circle with 10 others- healers, teachers and community builders- looking to cultivate activity and community out at a beautiful retreat site called the Haymoon Ranch. We'll join up again around Thanksgiving and continue to get to know everyone. Joe plans on being a volunteer youth hockey coach at the local rink, and I am hot on the trail of the dance and yoga community.

Oh and work...(the age old question!) I will be running an espresso stand on Big Mountain that will allow me mid-day ski breaks and sweet amenities including a private locker, access to the steamroom and hot tub, a private parking place and have I mentioned the ski breaks? Perfect for a few months employment! Joe will be working up at Big Mountain too! We'll know soon exactly where....

So enjoy our pics and keep in touch! The Honeymoon Adventure continues! And so will the blogging....
Sending so much love and adoration to you all,

Zoe

Yonder Mountain Jam

The pics:
1. Stanley Lake, below the rugged Sawtooth Mtns.
2. Shadow Play
3. Steam rising from The Plunge, Crouch ID
4. The open wolf hunting is a hot topic....
5. Our Dashboard Guides towards True North
6.One of many "hippie dips"... NOT hot enough to get into this wintery morning however.
7. Snowy family portrait
8. Classic
9. "There's a half moon rising in southeastern skies...."




Sometimes a song says it all...

"From Stanley up to Sunbeam. From Clayton on to Chalis. And down the Salmon River, to a rangeland palace, sagebrush all around..... Where the dear and elk do roam, this place that they call home. Where the flat lands stretch for miles, and the mountains touch the sky, and the sun always shines! In IDAHO!"

Joe and I had a blast driving the same route written into this classic bluegrass riff by our boys Yonder Mtn. We felt so cool!

Idaho has some of the most pristine country that we have seen- with the Sawtooth Range rising right out of the valley, cutting a jagged line against the sky. We would have gotten lost a bit longer there if a squall of winter snow storms hadn't covered the pass we'd been eying up.... But all is meant to be, and while we may have missed the best of the hippie dips, those hot waters run strong and will be there when we return. A video of our first (and only) snowy pass crossing with Kody is on Facebook (can't get it to load up here- sorry!).

Sending love and light!
Z

The Light in Dark Times

As Joe so poetically put it- our journey down the West Coast presented us with some soul-wrenching experiences... luckily, those times of introspection and social/political contemplation were contrasted with sunset beaches, crashing waterfalls and family reunions when we needed them most.

HUGE thanks go out to:
-Denise and Hershel for showing us a good time in Portland (CONGRATS on your engagement you two!),
-Ari and Anni for the most delicious meal-out of the trip (check out thehumblebeagle.blogspot.com for their latest culinary endeavors)
-Ben and Buffy for the story-swap (We send our blessings for your coming birth, Baby Lenth)
-Alena for her promise to come and visit us in Whitefish this winter (which we're holding her to),
...and to Alexis for impeccable timing. I love you sister.

Another major highlight of our time in Oregon was the boom town of Bend (now 80,000 people... a burgeoning Boulder). We found rest and some favorite creature comforts there... taking in Where the Wild Things Are (an Ed Psych Major's dream of a movie)... tearing up the miless and miles of SICK mtn biking terrain... and taking care of the rig (i.e. an oil change and thorough vacuum session).

After an epic all-day push, we crossed Eastern Oregon and arrived in the mountains of Idaho (ahhhhhh, mountains again). A plethora of hot spring hippie dips await, and the Sawtooth Range is righteous!

Our BIG NEWS: We've decided to return to Whitefish and hunker down for the winter! Joe has lined up a job on Big Mountain as a snowboard instructor, earning us each ski passes! I will hopefully fulfill my dream of working at a coffee shop (and there is the coolest little version there- check out montanacoffeetraders.com). We plan on arriving there within the week! Whose coming to visit?? Big Mountain is known for it's fluffy pow.....

So with love from Sun Valley,
Zozo

The Pacific Northwest...

Without darkness there cannot be light… It is in the darkness that our soul, our true self, has the opportunity to expand and evolve. It is in light that our spirit soars high, finding wholeness and oneness. Our body, spirit, and soul is the trinity of our conscious existence and it is in the search for balance between these three where we find true peace and happiness.
It was the darkness that greeted Zoë and I on the coast of the Pacific Northwest, down through Washington and into Oregon. It was the echoes of the abundant life that once lived in such harmony. The fish of vast seas, animals of the forests, and the spirits of the trees and healing plants that once rained over this beautiful land were now only visions of the past, flashing in the shadows of those trees that survived. Now in the place of this world, massive chimneys bellowed smoke upon the ancient beaches. As I listened to the waves crash, stories where told of balance and harmony and of the ancient people who called this place home, and how clear cutting -a destructive, intellectual idea- has rapped the forests of spirit, diverse life, and balance. As the rain fell from the stumps of ancient giants who carried wisdom unknown to the hand with the saw, it was as if tears fell solemnly to the ground. As we walked through the great forests, that were somewhat protected from this blind hand of destruction, the souls of the trees cried out as their brethren continue to be torn down for profit. The new régime- not living in nature, not even living with nature- conquers nature in the name of economic stimulus. I could not help to imagine or to dream of that time long ago… a time of balance between body, soul, and spirit, and of the individuals who once hunted the land, fished the seas, and found health in the plants. The light of my spirit became hidden from me in the darkness I was experiencing.
The imbalance we have created in this region is intellectualized, and peace is found in the rational mind. We now believe and teach our children that the intellectual-critical mind is what should guide us through this world, rather than attuning to the intelligence of our heart or the wisdom of our soul. Those indigenous to this area, once so attuned, are now oppressed and sent to live in exile on Reservations beneath the shadow of the genocide of their elders. Now, two ill States, dependent on logging, are manifesting symptoms in the form of methadone addiction, crime, and the abuse of nicotine and alcohol.
Yet through all this darkness lies hope, an opportunity for our souls to dance once more. As one of our great teachers explained to us in Eugene… “There is light in dark times!” As the world becomes more extreme and polarized each day, we as individuals have the chance to shine light into the darkest of places. I know that the answers we are looking for are not found “out there,” but rather deep down inside each of us. It is my hope that each of us find the courage to take the plunge deep within one’s self… for what lies within our own darkness is dangerous and troubling… it is what we despise the most in others… it is what we try to destroy in our enemies. However, if we find this courage… if we can teach our children this courage… our images of enemies, fears, and destruction may someday be recognized as mere illusions and fade into the past. Then, we may find the guiding force of love lighting our way in times of trouble and conflict. The soul will have done its work, for a time, and the spirit will once again shine and soar, as each individual continues to discover balance within our own body, spirit, and soul.

Coffee... Friend or Foe?

For so long I have criticized the coffee bean and it’s trendy little corporate buzz-biz known as Starbucks… But long days driving the rig down lonesome highways with the wife at my side and my loyal dog at my back have changed me. This once loyal tea drinker, clear and focused, standing like an oak tree in a hurricane would never bow at the hand of a Mint Mocha Frappuccino blended coffee with Chocolate Whipped Cream, a Pumpkin Spice Latte, or a hot cup of French Roast. I was blind to what was about to happen… Like an Apache scout or Ninja master, the Vanilla Latte has stealthily snuck its way back into my once-peaceful tea drinking life. Much to my own surprise I have decided to lower my sword and take off my armor… Defeated, I again have become a coffee drinker. My days now are filled with ups and downs, blood shot eyes, and minor mood swings… I’ve fallen off the wagon! So the picture above goes out to all of you Venti-Carmel-Macchiato-on-the –fence-with-skim–milk-drinking-Starbuck’s-lovin’-folks and to rest of y’all… It was taken in front of, that’s right, the first ever Starbucks known to man or women! Drink up coffee lovers… drink up! ~J~

Orcas Isle

It's late.... and I think the pics speak for themselves on this one. I love island life. We stayed an extra night.... and slowed waaaayyyyy down.

Auntie E- the hammock is perfect. ~Z~











Pics:
1. Joe atop the highest point on Orcas. (There is a fresh water lake below him and the Puget Sound with islands in the back)
2. Morningtime
3. Cooper and the ocean view from camp
4. Groovy backpacking chick sherpa-ing gear to the site
5. On the ferry