New Horizons

10mm diameter (mosaic) - Mosaic gold in sterling silver

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Today, I am off to India! I'm looking forward to exploring the beaches in South Goa, having some drinks and laughs with a gal pal, and eating a different style of curry than what I've had in Sri Lanka. I suspect my seafood binging will continue. 

So here's to a new adventure, with new sunsets, new vistas, and and new challenges. 

Island Farewell

18mm by 13mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver

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I am in the midst of saying goodbye to Sri Lanka, as I leave tomorrow. It is a day of bittersweet lasts. I am ready for a new adventure, but having my last roti, sitting at Green Umbrella Bar having a last beer, and trying to decide where to eat my last dinner is still difficult. I've been here for 6 weeks—how is that possible?—my trip divided into two parts, 3 weeks with a travel companion, 3 weeks on my own. Having seen much of the country with company, my goal for my solo time has been to get some work done. I did manage this, though not as much as I would have liked, but I don't think I've ever said, "I got everything done I wanted to do!" 

I've enjoyed the slower pace of the last few weeks, and have come to feel very comfortable in this island nation. Thank you Sri Lanka. I hope to return. 

Routine Sweetness

14mm diameter - Mosaic gold in sterling silver

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I have heaps of change in my life. I write about it. I seek it out. I thrive on it. But even a change junkie likes myself need the occasional break. Sometimes, even I need a routine. 

I am currently in the middle of a really delicious one. The beauty of my life is I can plan my routine spectacularly. Currently, my day, my everyday, looks like this.

I wake naturally, usually between 7:30-8:30am. I get up and go for the same breakfast at the same place: pumpkin cheese roti and coffee, served by the beaming young Dewmi. Her effervescent smile promises of a good day to come. Then I mosaic, usually 3-4 hours, at the communal outdoor area at my hotel. The woman of the family who owns it always comes to admire and chat. Yesterday it was how the unrest in parliament has kept tourists away. Today it was how many girlfriends her dog has. I can't wait for tomorrow's topic. I think she admires my work ethic. 

After I pack up, I go to the beach, sitting at the same beach bar each day. I don't know what it's called. I call it the Green Umbrella Bar in my head. They know me now. I don't know any names, but one calls me Miss Canada. Depending on my mood and the weather and the time, I swim or not. I then drink 1.5L of water, followed by a beer. I will blog, or other business admin. A video chat happens too.

Dinner presents the largest challenge and decision. The food here is very good. I have found 4 restaurants of excellent caliber, and have decided to indulge myself a bit. The usual question is prawns, crab, or tuna, followed by where. This is a difficult decision, though as my time here comes all to soon to a finish I find this being somewhat more planned so that favourite dishes can be had for a final time.

By the time I leave here, I'll have had ten days of this. While I suspect I'd balk at doing this everyday for the rest of my life, I am thoroughly enjoying this fleeting routine of mine. 

Red Sisters

28mm by 7mm - Mosaic gold, smalti in sterling silver

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I am not always the best at getting to some of the requests my nearest and dearest make for my work, which is horrible, really. So my dear sister has been VERY patiently awaiting these earrings, which she requested about 9 months ago. Sorry Lorna! 

But just maybe, I was waiting for the right inspiration, which came in the form of an unbelievable plant with fuschia leaves on it that I saw at a guesthouse recently. Of course, I had to go searching for the name, and found out that it is referred to colloquially as "Red Sisters". Damn. That couldn't be any more perfect, right?

Unexpected

18mm by 13mm - Mosaic gold, smalti in sterling silver

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The creation of this piece has an interesting back story, and one that makes me look less than great, to be honest. I probably could have titled this post "Eating Crow".

You see, I had a negative opinion about someone that I formed based on seeing them from afar, and from a few brief interactions. I almost always tend to think the best about people, I usually like everyone almost immediately, but in this case, I did not. I was even, perhaps, derisive. I did notice that others in the community didn't necessarily share my opinion, but tended to chalk that up to the longevity of their friendships. 

Then came a late afternoon where I witnessed this individual buying a cute little souvenir for his friend's grandchild. I then ended up in a long conversation with this man, and was surprised by the level of depth, sensitivity, and vulnerability he was willing to show me, despite our lack of closeness. I realized that maybe I had been wrong about him. A few days later he asked me to make a pendant to give to his mother, and was active in the choosing of the size, colour, and length of chain, based on his knowledge of her preferences. He then paid me more than I asked him for it. 

So apparently I, who hardly ever thinks unkindly about people, can get it really wrong sometimes. 

HIkkaduwa Sunset

10mm diameter mosaic - Mosaic gold in sterling silver

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I see the sun go down on some pretty amazing places, and as you well know, I don't really get tired of it. There is nothing better than a sundowner drink, preferably with my feet in sand. Sometimes the sky is on fire with orange, sometimes it's pink, sometimes it's not much of anything but a bit of a warm glow. 

I recently had the privilege of seeing the sun go down in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka at least a dozen times. This was my favourite. 

Tropical Storm

14mm by 10mm - Mosaic gold, smalti in sterling silver

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Some tropical locations don't always have an ironclad "rainly season". The West and some of South Sri Lanka is susceptible to rain year round. On the positive side, this keeps everything so deliciously green; on the negative side, I've had to buy an umbrella.

The problem with an umbrella is, well, you have to remember to bring it. However, you will only have this problem once. On the evening the umbrella was left behind, it began to rain. Really rain. Torrents of rain. I'd say it was raining cats and dogs, but if it were, the spay and neuter issue would be too great deal with and it would be Planet of the Apes, but with canines and felines. 

We thought, okay, it will ease up, let's have another drink and wait it out. So one drink turned into two, and we finally realized easing up just wasn't on the menu. Alright, we'd run for it. 

I have never been so wet in my life. I have been in a bathtub and been less wet. I have gone swimming in the ocean, and that was a comparatively dry experience. My family has a old joke about a particular rain shower that "was a dry rain". This was not a dry rain. We arrived back at the guesthouse dripping. I have turned on faucets and gotten less water flow than my body had that night.

I have never forgotten the umbrella again.

Learning to Trust

22mm by 8mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver

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It started out pale. Just a glimmer really. I dared to hope, to wonder. Hadn't expected it yet. I wasn't prepared. But, but maybe...

It deepened. Consistent inches covered daily. Never expecting the foot, the mile. Never snatched away. Still I was unsure...

Consistent days became unfailing months. Unease slowly dissolved. Fear dissapated, replaced by something gentle. 

I think it's trust. 

Extraganza: Post 500!

Each 10mm diameter (mosaic) - Mosaic gold in sterling silver

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I sat down to blog today, unsure what to blog about. Then I looked at the sidebar of my blog dashboard, and realized I have published 499 posts. So this post is 500! I would never have imagined, almost 10 years ago when I started Mosaic a Day, that I would ever get to 500 posts, let alone be still going strong nearly a decade later, writing post 500 from a beach in Sri Lanka. 

Well. It's been a decade of ups, downs, laughter, change (holy crap has there been a LOT of change!), love, loss, and travel. Thank you for joining me on this wild ride of piecing together a life. Thank you for your encouragement, your support, and for allowing me space in on your screen and in your inbox.

So in celebration of post 500, I give you not one but three rings to enjoy! You've seen a few of these in the past week or so, and they are the latest addition to my jewelry line up, currently available by special order. 

Blue Sea, Golden Sand

10mm diameter- Mosaic gold in sterling silver

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You know, I spend so much time on Santorini that I almost forget at times that most sand is not black. Do NOT get me wrong, I love the unusual, crazy, foot burning sand that my adopted island home has. However, other beaches become really exciting thanks to their "standard" golden sand. Of course, the sheer beauty of the beaches here in Santorini may have something to do with it too: