There’s a lot to be said for the weekend getaway: to leave the usual routine and familiar habitat; to experience something new and focus on activities with like-minded people. And have somebody else do the cooking!

The food is excellent at the North Cascades Institute–fresh, local, thoughtfully prepared and simply presented in a communal setting. Before or after a fine meal, you can walk near the dining hall and have this view from the shore of Diablo Lake (I forgot my camera).

I am still digesting my weekend retreat, where the time passed without the usual distractions of work and home and mundane chores. Attention was paid to clearing the mind of clutter, so that one could notice small things and how small things are connected to big things. How to manage the clutter, live in the body, articulate the noticings, connect with others and the world.

There will be more about this topic…

North Cascades Institute: http://www.ncascades.org