solyih. : Eckhart, Irvine and the Past...

This summer was quite interesting for me, to say the least, and wait, it still is not over yet, it is almost like Dante's inferno here in Irvine. Oh, and our stuff is still in Los Angeles waiting to be X-rayed, which I need to pay in addition to $15,000 already paid to bring my stuff from Israel to London, and storage in London for a month, then to Los Angeles. In conclusion, we lived without any furniture and out of our suitcases since we left London in June.

My dear friend who knows my situation quite well, and who shares my love for France and Europe, told me about Eckhart Tolle. I have been interested in spirituality and his teachings immediately touched me on a personal level.

So, basically, I try not to complain about my current situation and try to be 'present' in Now, not my past, not my youth, not my French farm house, not my London flats, not all the heavenly cheese and dairy products in France and UK, not rain and thunder and the cool breeze of London, not crisp cold air when I walk out to get a heavenly bottle of organic Rachel's milk at the little organic store on the Broadway Market, No, No, No.... I can not do that.

I have to find pleasure and truly appreciate the beauty of Irvine, the impeccably manicured homes and lawns, occasional trips to Los Angeles and the beaches, and last but not least, the 100 Fahrenheit weather.

Eckhart is amazing and I totally feel and agree with his teachings, but I am not yet capable of controlling my mind enough to not dwell on the past or the future. I have been too spoiled last 5 years travelling Europe with my amazing two girls. Coming back to USA was like coming back to a completely strange country for both myself and Arielle. Eckhart says, living in the past or future doesn't help your current situation, and they are like illusion, and I completely agree with that. And the older we are the more we dwell on the past, and the younger you are, the future. So, I am going to try my best not to miss Europe too much and concentrate on enjoying SoCal for now.

This photo is my favourite photo of all history of Solyi's photos, so far... in Chartres, back of the cathedral.

I found some photos from Spring of 2010 when we were living in a beautiful mansion block in Maida Vale. These two years in London were Arielle and my happiest of years before we were basically forced to relocate to Israel( a long story which is better unexplained ). I had a brand new gorgeous, black Hyudai i30 and I was driving everywhere with that car, from busiest streets of London(I especially loved roaming around London on Sunday evenings when the streets are fairly empty) to the most rural of France, and even to Amsterdam and Brussels. Bye my beloved Hyundai. We drove our black Hyundai to Dover and took Ferry to Calais and then drove to Chartres, to see the cathedral, spent a night at a converted Monastery and we went onto our rented apartment at a chateau in Charente region near Angouleme, which turned out to be one of the most beautiful apartment I had ever been to. I wish I kept the owner's info, because I can not seem to find it. I would really want to rent it again.

Chartres cathedral, the first building we studied at our famous History of Architecture taught by prof. Calkins.
the gothic masterpiece.

The beautiful chateau apt we rented, Poitou Charente

Angouleme, Poitou Charente

Angouleme, I had a friend in NY who was originally from Angouleme, when I visit her at her home in Westchester, they would give me dark wonderful coffee in this huge bowl, and they would cook a steak for their dog. I told myself, someday, I am going to visit Angouleme.

the wonderful town of Angouleme

Today, that is all the reminiscing I will allow myself about my past.

Meanwhile, back in Irvine, Halloween stuff is in full swing, how so very exciting!!!(sorry for the sarcasm)

Irvine, California

For a bonus, I will leave you with some 'present' of my life. I made another dress!!!! and this one fits too!!

I am completely in love with this Japanese bookstore called Kinokuniya in Costa Mesa, inside Mitsuwa market. I bought this sewing book and it is wonderful.