National Day of Listening

Today is the official, National Day of Listening. It's a day where you record / interview a family member, spouse or friend. Earlier this year I had heard that NPR was driving a Story Corps Airstream around the country providing a recording space for the interviews. This past March on my way to our most recent Silver Sisters Airstream rally in Pismo Beach, I came across the Story Corps Airstream parked in front of the John Steinbeck Museum. It was a bit surreal because about 10 years earlier I was at the museum after it's opening with my parents. I loved Steinbeck's book, Travels With Charley and I stared in awe at Steinbeck's 1960 GMC truck, Rocinante on exhibition in the museum for a long time. After we left the museum we stopped by our first Airstream Rally in Watsonville, CA. That's the day the aluminum fever really kicked in.
So there I was, revisiting the museum and I realized what a huge day that was back then and how it must have lived in my subconcious now that I find myself traveling with my pup, my '60's GMC truck and travel trailer!

I didn't have my man, G with me to record that day (not even Osa), so I made a vow that I'd make an appointment with Story Corps. I later read on the fabulous Andrea Hamilton's blog that she planned on conducting her own interview in her Airstream with a recording kit you can rent from Story Corps. What a great idea! My folks just visited this month and I interviewed my Mom in my 1960 Caravel using my iphone. It was incredible. I loved the questions, "is there anything advice that you'd like to tell me?", "what advice do you have for young couples?", "what was your childhood like?". These are questions that you'd like to ask, and it's so nice to have an excuse to actually ask them. It's also great to have a recording of it so you can share it with future generations. I really encourage you to set up an appointment with a friend, your spouse, and especially your parents or grandparents and conduct an interview. As they say, "listening is an act of love". So true, so true. Thanks for listening to my story.

the most beautiful blog post

Okay, so I can't call this my official post, because I can't take credit for my sister's brilliance. Amy is an amazing writer; when I read her piece, Musica Universalis, I got chills all over. I think it's perfect for this time of year and it's so beautifully written, I had to share it with you. Hope you don't mind, Amy. Love you!
You can read it on her blog- Sleepy Hollow Books

two girlies camping

Last week I camped a mile down the road from our house with Debra, one of my Silver Sisters. She towed her Airstream up from Laguna Beach to Jackson and then headed on up to Coloma for a visit. We parked by the river by the one lane bridge. I camped in my 1965 Eriba for the first time! I love that little trailer! It was so great to share Lotus / Coloma with Debra, to shop on Main Street, thrift stores & antique stores galore. We talked Airstreams and restoration for hours on end. I wanted to camp all week. Thanks for coming up for a visit, Debra! Let's hope we can talk some of the other chicas to get their aluminum up this way for a silver sisters' weekend!

bambi at the wedding

Jamie & Mahala got married last weekend! They are my Lotus friends, very close to my heart. Their ceremony was Native American influenced and it was magical. Each of the guests offered a "blessing" of a feather (loyalty), stone (strength) or a wrapped bundle of corn (fertility). What a special day it was and so fun to plan with Mahala along the way. Jamie's best buddy from back east stayed in my Bambi during his visit. At the reception he told me all of the things he loved about my silver baby in great detail. There is something about true appreciation that really goes along way. I knew that he and my Bambi were bonding. That was the theme of the weekend, families and friends coming together, some for the first time, and appreciating and noticing all of the wonderful details in each other. Here's to a lifetime of celebrating the beautiful details, M & J!

Kristiana's World

Between the third & fourth episode of the show, G flew in & we headed down to the Outer Banks for some kiteboarding. It had been destination on both of our lists for a long time. The wind wasn't ideal for a beginner like me, so Osa & I cheered G on from the shore as I sketched jewelry ideas. I looked at Osa looking at G and immediately thought of the painting, Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth (see image on right). I'm calling my image, Kristiana's World; a world I'm lovin' big time.

episode #3 tonight

Tonight is the third episode of Making Over America with Trinny & Susannah on TLC!
For me, one of the funnest things about watching each show is remembering that part of my road trip this summer. My favorite part about Rehoboth Beach, Deleware was walking down the main street with Osa and window shopping in all of the boutiques. We discovered a dog friendly Hobos Restaurant where the servers treated Osa like a queen. Above top is a photo of my Airstream at the shoot other photo is my bowl of Indonesian green curry soup, delish.
(Only way to top it is if I could've met up with Susan for an iced coffee!)
Hope you can tune in tonight!

mini-licious

Before I left on my road trip this summer, I ordered my very first new car (gasp, not vintage?!). A Mini Cooper Clubman stole my heart. My lil' Mini arrived and waited in our garage while I was on my east coast adventure. Of course I'm still pledging my love to Chestnut, my 1969 GMC pickup, but after two months together lugging around a 4,000 pound trailer, we need a little time apart. Chestnut is enjoying being a local, doing her regular trips to the dump and being a "work truck" again. My lil' Mini and I are doing some serious bonding in the meantime. (If only the Clubman / Fritz Hansen combo was reality & not a concept, my dreams would be answered!) Soooo... new car and Osa doggie. Hmmmmm. I did a little online search and I found Pooch Style. Juliana, the owner of Pooch Style is fantastic. She's a great business woman and online friend. I ordered a custom mat so Osa could hang in my Clubman, and is it so beautifully made, I love it. Osa loves it. Next I'm going to order a backseat mat, and maybe a little boat bed to go with the Beebo trailer theme! Juliana also has mats for BMW's, PT Cruisers, leashes, coats, beds & lot more.