Coffee and Stilettos

currents...

2012-02-17T15:43:00.002-05:00

my days.
have been a revolving cycle.
of.

dylan records.
documentaries.
research.
marathon training.
nephew visits.
whole food runs.
bread baking.
AM yoga.
fried egg + avocado sandwiches.
and the possibility of becoming a midwife.

the current is fast.
but i feel calm behind my oar.

tartine.

2012-01-19T10:00:00.004-05:00

after a year of reading this book.
and multiple viewings of this video.
i finally mustered up the gumption.
to attempt tartine bread.

first.
i mixed a starter.
and then i studied it.
fed it.
learned its pattern.
and its smell.

and when it was ready.
i made a leaven.

and then a dough.

and then.
this morning.
with snow gently falling outside.
i made a loaf of bread.

a good loaf.
with a thick, crunchy crust.

and i sliced into it.
still steamy and warm.
from the oven.

and i slathered it with cherry preserves.

and i wrapped a portion of it.
in brown paper.
for my sister.

and i went to sleep.
after a long night of working.
with the scent of fresh bread.
still hanging in the air.

little things.

2012-01-17T22:22:00.003-05:00

so many little things.
just beneath the surface here.

freelance projects.
bread baking.
west coast trip planning.
first birthdays.
walnut wood.
sherlock holmes.

the quiet calm of life.
bubbling with content.

winter quiche

2012-01-12T10:29:00.004-05:00

temperatures here have been mild.
balmy even.
and they've left me unsettled.

there's something about january.
that begs for the crunch of snow.
beneath your boots.
and
clouds of your own breath.
in the air.

i'm anxiously awaiting spring.
and my hands in the warm earth.
but i wouldn't mind a small flake.
or two.
in the meantime.

***

it did seem a bit cooler this morning.
my feet feeling chilled on the kitchen tile.
and so it was perfect.
that i had already planned on making brooke's quiche today.

i rolled the overnight dough out on the table.
and filled its shell with:
sauteed kale, mushrooms, and garlic.
herb-laced eggs.
and sliced peppers.

the warmth from the gas stove.
permeated the house.
and the smell that wafted from the kitchen.
was divine.

***

the sun hasn't really peeked from the behind the clouds.
so i plan on staying in awhile this morning.
big slice of quiche in hand.
while i curl up to enjoy the rest of this.

***

here's to a day that nearly feels like winter.

discovering skyr

2012-01-10T12:51:00.005-05:00

on a whim.
i went to whole foods after work the other morning.

the aisles were uncharacteristically vacant.
the flowers fresh cut.
and the loaves of bread still warm.
and steamy.

as i was leisurely exploring.
i came across this yogurt.
and in keeping with the spirit of spontaneity.
i bought a few flavors.

i came home.
peeled one open.
drizzled a touch of honey on top.
and immediately fell in love.

far and away.
the thickest.
most delicious.
yogurt i've ever tasted.

spoonfuls of bliss.

***

also:

been watching this addictive british masterpiece.
reading this simple, beautiful book.
and melting into winter landscapes while listening to this.

***

simple cheese.

2011-12-30T13:44:00.004-05:00

made cheese today.
with joni mitchell remakes and old bluegrass playing.
such an easy.
and utterly fulfilling process.

as i stretched and shaped the mozzarella.
i found myself asking:

why did i ever buy this from a store?

simple.
delicious.

will definitely do it again.
and soon.

goat cheese.
perhaps.

oats & outdoors

2011-12-28T13:56:00.004-05:00

vanilla bean steel cut oats.
and more fresh grapefruit juice.
this morning.

followed by an afternoon.
in bean boots.
raking near-frozen leaves.
and collecting lovely pieces.
of found cherry wood.

my mind is overwhelmed with ideas.
for my next carving project.

the morning after.

2011-12-26T11:27:00.003-05:00

the holiday was lovely.
all lights. and love.

i spent the morning.
packing up ornaments off the tree.
and sipping fresh squeezed grapefruit juice.

the weather is so mild.
a warmish winter.

a mast brothers christmas

2011-12-23T21:59:00.004-05:00

gifted myself some delicious
mast brothers chocolate.

perhaps i'll indulge in a corner.
tomorrow night.

flannel pajama-clad.
in the light of the christmas tree.

2011-12-22T17:13:00.003-05:00

apple verbena jam + sharp cheddar grilled cheese.
fresh coffee.
the new issue of kinfolk.
and thick knit socks.

a combination culminating into wintery bliss.

rosemary wreath

2011-12-20T10:38:00.002-05:00

made these last night.

so simple.
so festive.

the house still smells like fresh cut herb.

snow + brunch + twinkle lights

2011-12-19T10:42:00.003-05:00

chicago was magical.

all awash with:

gently falling snow.
farm-fresh brunch.
and midnight twinkle lights.

christmas was palpable in the crisp air.

i feel thankful & refreshed.

***

ps: loving this christmas song.

a winter weekend.

2011-12-15T08:25:00.002-05:00

there's something about the sparsity of winter.
that leaves me peaceful.
at rest.

it's as if the frozen air.
is the only kind that ever really gets all the way into my lungs.
i breathe.
and for a few months.
i can see every breath.

*

on my way to chicago again.
for the whole weekend-- this time.
no agenda.
no strategic plan.

just hot cider.
cold evening walks.
family-style dinners.
and christmas cheer.

happy weekend.

maple syrup and winter snow

2011-12-09T08:06:00.002-05:00

snow fell today.
the perfect little winter dusting.
coating sidewalks.
and tree branches.
and porch railings.

i curled up in a fluffy flannel sheet.
and drizzled this yummy syrup.
over steel cut oats.

the perfect morning.

headed for chicago today.
bon iver in the windy city!

it's the stuff christmas dreams are made of.

ushering in winter

2011-12-03T09:54:00.002-05:00

lately:

lemon + honey + ginger syrup tea on cool mornings.

l.l. bean boots on frosty evening treks to work.

christmas records & the tree rising.

roasted olives

2011-11-28T16:52:00.003-05:00

warm roasted olives.
with olive oil + thyme + lemon juice.

enjoy them any way you please.

or as i do.

on a late fall afternoon.
paired with:
crusty wheat bread.
roasted beets.
and fresh goat cheese.

spoon #1

2011-11-15T14:08:00.002-05:00

my very first carved spoon.

a little rough around the edges.
and in need of a good sanding.

but i love it, none-the-less.

re-invention

2011-11-13T17:48:00.002-05:00

been wandering woods.
collecting old sticks.
to carve down.
to re-invent.
to shed them of their rot.
and callus.
and give them fresh purpose.

i acquired some tools.
a carving knife.
a few chisels.
a gouge.

and i've gotten to work.
chipping away.
at what one day.
may be a handle.
or a walking stick.
or a butter knife.
or a pair of earrings.

when some more sizable wood is collected.
i'm hoping to create my own
wooden spoons.
shelves.
stools.

the possibilities are endless.

loving...

2011-11-12T23:29:00.006-05:00

loving//

these words:

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from  where.
I love you simply, without problems or pride.
I love you in this  way because I do not know any other way of loving but this--
in which  there is no I or you.
so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my  hand.
so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.
Pablo Neruda


this recipe:
creamy baked eggs & vanilla cardamom french toast


this video:
josh vogel

shoes & self portraits

2011-11-10T08:50:00.003-05:00

i splurged.
and bought myself a new digital camera.
one all decked out.
with detachable lenses.
and artsy filters.

no need to edit.
nearly every photo is magic.

and although i've only shot.
shoes & self portraits.

i get the impression.
that this camera and i will get along.
just fine.

grand mere state park: part 2/woods

2011-11-07T06:04:00.002-05:00

"i'll stand where you stood/come out of the woods."
-matthew and the atlas

***

grand mere's trail head.
led out onto a beautiful.
shaded.
nature path.

the mid october afternoon.
lent it's mild wind.
orange & crimson canopy.
and generous leaf piles.

the sun shone like a diamond through the tree trunks.

grand mere state park: part 1/baldtop

2011-11-03T15:49:00.000-04:00

a few weekends ago.
i rose early.
packed a backpack.
and drove clear across the palm of michigan.

window's rolled down.
sphere of the sun in my rear-view mirror.

i drove till the highway hugged lake michigan.
then pulled into a state park.
and traversed through the gorgeous woods.

the forest trail led to a sand dune.
baldtop.
a hundred foot climb.

the wind whipped.
and sand swirled around me.

i trudged to the top.

in the near distance.
white-capped lake waves could be heard.
crashing.
calling.

i pushed further on.
and to my great reward.

the peak was incredible.
crisp air.
sand grass.
water.
and solitude.

not a soul to be seen.

i sat with my legs hanging over a sandy edge.
looking out across the wide expanse.

endless water.
endless water.
endless.

orange/purple

2011-11-01T04:27:00.000-04:00

//as of late//

the autumn afternoons.

have been saturated with:::

orange moccasins.
purple flannel.
film.
and fallen leaves.

om.

2011-10-28T23:17:00.003-04:00

on a recent morning hike.

i happened upon a sign.
nailed to a tree.
in the autumn wood.
hand carved.
and laden with meaning.

two small letters.
etched.
O and M.

om.
om.
om.

a simple.
repetitive.
vibrating.
cacophony.

a verbal meditation.

it felt like the whole forest.
wrapped up in a single word.
a single sound.

i lingered long at the tree trunk.
staring up at that sign.

awash.
with peace.

alaska dreams

2011-10-27T09:15:00.003-04:00

i've been having dreams.
big.
beautiful.
wilderness dreams.

alaska dreams.

i picture myself trekking through the midwest.
up across the canadian rockies.
onto the alaskan passage.

my car ends up on a lone highway.
dead ending in the seaside town of homer.
on the tip of the kenai peninsula.

i travel light.
my green day pack heavied only by--
an old 1950's map of alaska.
and my field notes.

i look out across the bay.
and then further out.
across the sea.

i feel the crisp air.
blowing down off the mountains.
i sense the ocean.
in every part of the world around me.

and i'm peaceful.
elated.

home.

i can't wait step foot in that beautiful place.

documenting the moon.

2011-10-20T14:49:00.003-04:00

{moon. 10/8/11}

life has been full.
oh. so. full.

and i've found precious little time to document it.

spontaneous road trips across the state at sunrise.
blue corn pancakes.
dancing stage-side at concerts.
and northern exposure re-runs.

have consumed my days.
and nights.

oh- i've taken photos all along the way.
have no doubts.
and undeveloped film.
lays cased in my purse.
as we speak.
just aching to be processed.
and shared.

proper updates are in the works.
a diary of fall excitement.

in the meantime.
i'll keep trying for that perfect picture of the moon.

:: the north

2011-10-16T11:39:00.003-04:00

missing northern michigan...

the apples in their orchard

2011-10-13T05:09:00.000-04:00

there's something so perfect about the orchard.
(especially this year-- as i explored it with my nephew for the first time)

pumpkins.
apples.
bales of hay.
hot donuts.
cold cider.
a mason jar bee hive.
ponies.

it makes autumn real.
makes it tangible.
wraps it all up.
and places it right in your hand.

an afternoon there in the crisp air.

is one of my most cherished traditions.

the quiet. and the moon.

2011-10-11T22:31:00.004-04:00

*diana outtake collage*

been quiet here.
working. dreaming.

****

tonight.
i left my camera at home.
drove out to the woods.
climbed on the hood of my car.
and stared long and hard.
at the full moon shining.

a baby deer hobbled.
knock-kneed.
out of the forest.
and into the silver lunar glow.

our eyes met.
through the shadows.
in a knowing.

then we both turned.
and headed home.

cast iron & succulent

2011-10-10T05:39:00.000-04:00

using a little plastic film camera.
can often result in happy accidents.
images that are survivors.
ones that make it against the odds.
ones that were never meant to be.

like this beauty.
an unlikely pairing of cast iron & succulent.

one that i love all the more.
for being something so much greater.
than the sum of its parts.

eggs & oxfords

2011-10-05T16:23:00.000-04:00

the days.
as of late.
have been introspective.
layered.
they pulse and buzz.
with the life-force of discovery.
and wonder.

i've spent them.
wearing in a pair of oxfords.
traipsing cities and forests--
with a pentax k1000 around my neck.
and cooking up the freshest of northern farm eggs.

this woman's incredible music
has been the soundtrack of my sunrise and moonlight.

it plays on in my head.
long after the notes have ceased.

// midnight moon

2011-10-03T18:11:00.000-04:00

{polaroid 600 image of plums + pentax. impossible film. with the back peeled off.}

i'm making this incredible cake.
using a bowl of juicy.
ripe.
midnight moon plums.

i was drawn.
immediately.
to their deep color.
and their lunar name.

it's fitting.
that i arrange them.
atop a sweet batter.
on a clear night.
under a half moon.

housekeeping::

2011-10-03T12:02:00.000-04:00

He would pick up eggshells, a bird’s wing, a jawbone,
the ashy fragment  of a wasp’s nest.
He would peer at them with the most absolute  attention--
and then put them in his pockets,
where he kept his  jack-knife and his loose change.
He would peer at them as if he could  read them.

- Marilynne Robinson, Housekeeping

read this book. please. read. read. this book.

coffee shop medicine

2011-10-02T05:31:00.000-04:00

there's something so brilliant.
about a crisp afternoon spent over lattes.
and spritzers.
and egg sandwiches.

something so therapeutic.
about a conversation that flows.
and laughs that multiply.
and encounters with strangers at counter tops.

i am a firm believer that a coffee shop is the very best medicine.

comfort food

2011-09-29T22:17:00.004-04:00

in the summer i find i cook less.
i eat so much fresh.
and raw.
right off the vine.
drizzled with a bit of olive oil.
or only lightly sauteed in a herby sauce.

but when the temperature tumbles.
i begin craving comfort.
something homemade.
something warm.
and so i find myself positioned by the stove.
baking.
creating.
transforming fresh ingredients.
into a dish i can't help but savor.

most recently.

i feasted on--
farm fresh fried eggs on toast.
home-grown home-fries.
and these addictive chocolate beet muffins.

spot-on. and delish.

rain boots. rain. and harvest.

2011-09-28T15:36:00.005-04:00

the garden beds.
have been turning chilly.

moonlit temperatures.
have just escaped the point of frost.

and the summer plants are calling to be harvested.

so rain boot clad.
and bucket accompanied.
i ventured out into a rainy morning.

and plucked a few final eggplants.
snipped a load of huge, veiny collards.
salvaged some green tomatoes from a weeping vine.
and pulled up all the dark red beets.

lunches.
dinners.
and muffins.
were had in excess.

oh how genuinely.
and dearly.
i will miss the season of harvest.

: sparkle/shell/feather

2011-09-26T11:32:00.000-04:00

sparkle shoe.

beached shell.

and scattered feather.

accent the cool whisper of the breeze.

the hue of orange-red leaves.

the warm of still-hot muffins.

and the moon near dawn.

::: autumnal elements

2011-09-23T08:14:00.000-04:00

it's late september.

the autumnal equinox.

and i feel as though i could survive solely on.

thick flannel.

changing leaves.

& stove-top espresso in a camping mug.

the trinity of fall comfort.

+++

watch.

listen.

:: we stood. steady as the stars in the woods. -- b.howard

2011-09-21T16:26:00.001-04:00

ever since i discovered the grove.
it's been a place of peace.
and clarity.
to me.

i love standing at the mouth of the woods.
that first stretch of dirt-packed path to the forest.
i take a quick breath before i enter.
it's a different world beneath that canopy.
of tree and branch.

and anything is possible.

++

on my latest journey there.
i came upon a place where the trees break.
and a lovely view of the blue pond emerges.
as i peered between the bark-covered trunks.
i halted and i hushed.

for perched like porcelain on the surface of the water.
stood a snow-white crane.
her beak dipped low.
as she balanced on the blue tide.
with effortless ease.
and grace.

i longed to capture her image.
and slowly.
soundlessly.
removed the cap from my camera lens.

but alas.
my presence made known.
she turned her head to my rustle.
and lifted into the wind.

her wings moved like a single feather.
up and down like a marionette.
seemingly weightless.
in flight.

as she perched on a tree branch across the pond.
i stared.
feeling oh-so-grateful.
for a moment in her presence.

++

i was curious to see.
what my camera captured.
of the great cranes flight.
and was delighted to find.
you can just see her.
on the film.

a white wisp on the water.
leaving a shadow.
and a ripple.
in her wake.

:: minutiae

2011-09-19T19:30:00.000-04:00

as of late.

i've been wearing plaid flats.

snagging window seats at coffee shops.

and chasing rainbows through the mist.

fall echoes.

in the pulsing minutiae of daily life.

::: a thousand different ways...

2011-09-18T22:43:00.004-04:00

i went to lake michigan this past weekend.

rock jumped past the lighthouse.

wandered through the forests.

hiked the hilly sand dunes.

and while the earth.

in all her glorious splendor.

was utterly breathtaking.

i found myself consistently looking up.

to the sky.

to the light.

i discovered there are a thousand different ways.

to see the sun.

: love letters and leaps :

2011-09-15T15:25:00.004-04:00

sometimes.
when the nights start getting cooler.
and the sky turns a few shades darker.

the best and only thing to do.

is meet your friends on the corktown sidewalk.
under a full moon.
for hot barbecue sandwiches.
and fresh peach tea.

the very act of it.
is the final love letter to summer.
and the first leap into fall.

+++

:: detroit + beckett ::

2011-09-14T12:14:00.000-04:00

there were not many steps.
i had counted them a thousand times.
both going up.
and coming down.
but the figure has gone from my mind...
memories are killing.
so you must not think of certain things.
of those that are dear to you.
or rather you must think of them.
for if you don’t there is the danger of finding them.
in your mind, little by little.
that is to say.
you must think of them for a while.
a good while.
every day.
several times a day.
until they sink forever in the mud.
that’s an order.

– Samuel Beckett

:: the bookstore

2011-09-12T06:33:00.000-04:00

there's an incredible used/rare bookstore in detroit.
the expansive building houses four stories of books--
packed onto shelves.
towered into toppling stacks on the floor.
or resting displayed in glass cases.

your first time there can be a little overwhelming.
they even hand you a map when you walk in.

but i love this place.
the ancient building sags.
the floorboards creak.
and the musty smell of old books lingers in the air.

the aisles are lit by single light bulbs that hang from wires.
and the tattered wooden windows open wide to the city.

there is always a gem to be uncovered there.
whether it be a gorgeous old tome from early 1900's paris.
or a slender volume about the art of writing.
rest assured there is something magical waiting for you.

i've even had some of my best old photo
and vinyl record
finds here.

i wish every bibliophile could spend a day enraptured in this place.

++

on my latest visit.
i looked out one of the open windows.
across the freeway.
and saw a sign that read:

"time to engage".

i smiled.

well said, detroit.

well said.

-- don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. b.dylan--

2011-09-09T07:58:00.000-04:00

the air is crisp.
and the sun is setting earlier.
and earlier.
each evening.

so i'm...

letting my toes sink into their last few patches of grass.

plucking baby tomatoes off the vine.

basking in warm light through sheeted windows.

and embracing the temperature as it drops.

i whisper to the winds.

welcome fall.

i'm ready for the sweaters. scarves. boots. and pumpkin lattes.
you bring.

::: 'round here...

2011-09-06T19:50:00.003-04:00

around here.

it's been lots of:

reading mary oliver at cafe counters.

peeking around abandoned houses.

and loving on the cutest little guy on earth.

fall is nearly here.

and the wind is turning cool again.

it's all bliss.

: image + lyric + quote :

2011-09-05T19:05:00.000-04:00

just enough dark to see/ how you're the light over me.

- "the dreamer"
the tallest man on earth

write hard and clear about what hurts.

- ernest hemingway

it takes courage to grow up
and turn out to be who you really are.

- e.e. cummings

i want to stand as close to the edge as i can
without going over.
out on the edge you see all the kinds of things
you can't see from the center.

- kurt vonnegut

... the story behind the picture...

2011-09-03T14:03:00.006-04:00

i've always had this thing for old photos.
as a child--
i can remember pouring over tattered boxes.
stuffed to the top with yellowed pictures.
ones of my grandmother.
and my great-grand mother.
and people no one could remember anymore.

i especially loved those really really thick ones.
mounted on dark cardboard.
they made me imagine a world.
where even simple photos were a novelty.
were precious.
were art.

i'm still drawn to old pictures.
and love when i happen upon big boxes of them.
at antique shops.
or garage sales.

today i found a couple of stacks at a towering used book store.
and these few jumped out at me.
each had so much character.
so many layers.
such a story.
(that one of the eiffel tower-
had my imagination running wild!)

i felt compelled to buy them.
and then equally as compelled to share them here.

enjoy.

:: le petit zinc

2011-08-31T05:05:00.000-04:00

had an incredible lunch.

at my favorite little restaurant in the city.

paired together with old friends.

and the perfect amount of late summer sun--

the day was extraordinarily good.

2011-08-30T10:05:00.005-04:00

there is no prize in the armor.

stop letting go.
stop letting go.
stop letting go.

2011-08-29T08:17:00.001-04:00

- ernest hemingway
"a moveable feast"

::: the coffee shop

2011-08-28T10:10:00.000-04:00

astro coffee
favorite menu offering: macchiato.

avalon bakery
favorite menu offering: sea salt chocolate chip cookie.

+++

i have this thing for coffee shops.
for ordering a latte.
and a cookie.
and getting lost at a corner table.
with a book.
or a newspaper.
or a journal.

there's something about the community.
that is formed across cafe tables.
and counters.
the commonality present among each hot cup of joe.
or tea.

there's this electricity in the gathering.
some form of magic in the people watching.
a peace in the knowledge that--
you're never alone in a coffee shop.
even when you enter by yourself.

i love escaping through the doors.
being greeted by the scent of fresh bean.
and, sometimes, fresh bread.
being washed over.
by the sound of a hundred different whispers.

the coffee shop gives me permission.
to do nothing.
and in finding that stillness.
i realize.

i've done everything.

+++

{my two favorite coffee spots in detroit are pictured above.
they are both equal amounts of peace and fabulous.}

::: late summer observations

2011-08-26T05:24:00.001-04:00

took my little diana mini out to the garden.

and observed the late summer.

through her lens.

always such a rewarding experience.

pictured:

detroit beet sprouts.

harvested eggplant.

basil leaves--- fading to seed.

and clothespins on the line.

::: hermes rocket

2011-08-24T20:31:00.003-04:00

i came to possess a hermes typewriter.

the click click clacking.

is the methodical sound of a time gone-by.

i am pretty much obsessed with the little thing.

::: tour de troit-- part 4: signs & statues

2011-08-23T18:48:00.004-04:00

can i just say it?

i am totally in love with my city.

::: random/weekend shots + musings.

2011-08-21T11:06:00.001-04:00

...

Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp,

 Or what's a heaven for?

- Robert Browning

...

Bee - fondness - perfume - cord

      crumb- fool's gold - jumping voyeur

      soldier ease - solstice strip.

      purple quadrant - open gown.

      microned    matter

      martyrdom   quince

 grapeshot   micron.

- from the diary of frida kahlo

...

 love this.  

how i wish i could have been there in harlem that day.

...

love this, too.

i'll take one of everything, please.

...

i stand like a fool,
seeking a past that vanished ...
but night is wise and mighty
wiser than I, wiser then day.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

...

ps:
that shop in the last photo is my absolute favorite.
please. if you're ever in detroit.
find this gem.
enter.
and fall in love.

::: words that struck me & images from around here...

2011-08-19T23:25:00.004-04:00

you can’t beat death
but
you can beat death in life...

- charles bukowski
"the laughing heart"

::: alright

2011-08-17T09:01:00.003-04:00

on monday.

i took myself out on a much-needed date.

i sipped a chai tea latte.

wandered a little town in the sunny afternoon warmth.

and saw this incredible movie.
(you all MUST go see it!)

it was good to spend some time with myself.

turns out.

i'm doing alright.

::: things that speak to me...

2011-08-14T05:46:00.002-04:00

{transposed garage & garden. diana camera}

"i'm finding my peace. and forgiving myself for those things i've never done."

- willy tea taylor
"cattleman"

++++++

I look; morning to night I am never done with looking.

Looking I mean not just standing around, but standing around

as though with your arms open.

And thinking: maybe something will come, some

shining coil of wind,

or a few leaves from any old tree—

they are all in this too.

- mary oliver

+++++

and this gorgeous. gorgeous. video.

::: tour de troit-- part 3: the diana film edition

2011-08-11T19:33:00.000-04:00

randoms of detroit.

through the lens of my diana camera.

that old airstream.

is actually a traveling taco hut.

and.

that abandoned house in the third picture.

is my favorite in the city.

i often drive by.

slow down.

and imagine a life there.

+++

::: diana film 1: soup at spaulding court

2011-08-09T14:46:00.004-04:00

this morning.
i found my forgotten little diana camera.
along with a long-lost roll of used up lomo film.
i scoured the town.
and found a small place that still developed photos.
in an hour flat--the film was processed.
& the rest of the day has been spent immersed in these images.

so haunting and lovely.

this particular batch was taken last august.
at a fundraising soup dinner.
in the parking lot of an abandoned apartment complex.
all funds went to the renovation of the property.
it was a memorable time.

finding these photos in their little plastic cocoon.
was unearthing a treasure.
hope you enjoy the simplicity of the film.
as much as i do.

another batch of diana pictures coming later this week.

:: cherries & things...

2011-08-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

yesterday was the kind of day.

where sitting around.

eating cherries.

seemed like the only.

and best.

thing to do.

however.

i also managed to:
stumble across this brilliantly laid out & lovely old blog post.
do a bit of yoga.
peruse this intriguing site.
and compile inspiration for a writing project i'm working on.

but more details on that in the future...

::: thrifted. + plucked. + picked.

2011-08-05T07:24:00.000-04:00

thrifted:
delicious orange leather moccasins.
and a cozy flannel shirt to don on cold camping nights this fall.
{found in the men's section. never, ever underestimate the wearability of a man's shirt .}

plucked:
four garden heirloom tomatoes.
and an organic facial toner made using that very same veg.

picked:
oh, my sweet mandolin.
i decided i needed to play an instrument.
to make music an extension of my arms. hands. fingertips.
so i ordered this beginners axe.
and have been pick. pick. picking away.
there's a real joy in those strings.

++

::: that little diner...

2011-08-04T16:08:00.002-04:00

with 50's-diner-style stools.

all manner of charming kitsch decor.

fresh coffee.

homemade jam.

smoked gouda veggie omelette's.

and faygo in glass bottles.

mae's diner has just become one of my favorite spots in metro detroit.

so fitting that this gem is tucked away.

on a little tree-lined street.

in a town called pleasant ridge.

so very pleasant indeed.

:::: scattered

2011-08-02T08:59:00.003-04:00

i came home from work this morning.

to a barrage of feathers.

scattered near the garage doors.

the garden beds.

and the lilac tree.

i picked each one up.

and held it to the early morning light.

marveling.

what beautiful. majestic. reminders.

that i am rooted in the proper earth.

all at once.

a wanderer. and home.

:: the work

2011-08-01T08:52:00.005-04:00

my job has been keeping me occupied.

making me accountable to the clocking in & clocking out.

filling my lungs with hospital air.

my belly with cafeteria peanut butter packets.

and my hands with sweet new life.

but when i'm home between shifts.

i've managed to carve out a few moments for myself.

finding time to--

wax poetic over dripping eggplants.

fall madly in love with new warby parker specs.

and scroll endlessly through this beautiful summer blog.

so here's to the work week.

to the work we all do.

and to the beautiful little things that work on us in return.

++

:: kinfolk...finally

2011-07-29T05:10:00.000-04:00

it's been everywhere.
on blogs the world over.
and now it's my turn to gush.

kinfolk.
insert my deep sigh of satisfaction here.

i resisted all urges to sneak a peek at the virtual edition.
i wanted to experience the magazine between two covers.
between two hands.

and heavens--was it ever worth it.

kinfolk is bloody brilliant.
a masterpiece of talent. inspiration. and detail.

whether you gather with one.
or with many.
this publication has something to offer you.

i was fortunate enough to snag a hard copy.
but the gorgeous pages are available to all.

right here.

go.
immediately.

::: items of note...

2011-07-27T18:35:00.006-04:00

items of note:

+ a gorgeous jade elephant i inherited from the coolest lady that ever lived.

+ this lovely ceramic farmer's market container.

+ these garden clippers.

+ fresh, raw honey. direct from a friend's hive.

++

also of note:

this song from bon iver's new album.
this documentary.
this blog.
and this kettle.

::: dusk light

2011-07-25T21:09:00.005-04:00

the temperature was in the 80's today.

and it felt like our fever broke.

a collective sweating out took place over the past few weeks.

now.

the sigh of relief is palpable in the air.

so i took to the backyard this evening.

enjoying a haphazard breeze.

an addictive novel.

nettle leaf tea.

spicy dark chocolate.

and beautiful dusk light.

++

plus: here's a well done little video about the cafe i mentioned in the previous post.

::: commonwealth

2011-07-24T12:21:00.003-04:00

when i need to recharge.

i go to birmingham.

to a little cafe called commonwealth.

nestled at the end of a secluded alley street.

they serve me the best latte i've ever tasted.

sell me mast brother's chocolate bars.**

and exchange tales of brooklyn with me--

over the cash register.

as i walk through the town.

a man in a white suit croons sinatra outside a restaurant.

and smells from a dozen different bakeries drift through the air.

i look up at the sky.

through a haze of heat.

and am ever so thankful for refreshing.

** if you live in southern michigan. please. i urge you. find this cafe.
if only for the mast brother's chocolate. if you've never tasted a square. you're in for a real treat.**

::: all manner of...

2011-07-22T12:26:00.005-04:00

the week has been all manner of

carnival carrots.

bees on eggplant blooms.

final peas.

and green buckets next to dirt stained feet.

not pictured--
but equally as wonderful.

the week has also been:

monarch butterflies.

raw walnut tacos at a vegan cafe.

fall harvest garden transplants.

fresh seed bread with tahini and wild honey.

independent documentaries.

strawberry kombucha.

ipod jam sessions.

new warby parkers.

and tantalizing new possibilities.

here's to a weekend full of

sun. new friends. grilled pizza. mexican town. and love.

::: hot heat of summer

2011-07-21T19:50:00.003-04:00

(polaroid 600 images of backyard sun)

oh, summer sun.

oh, hot heat of summer.

blaze lovely.

you burn the life into me.

and i cannot get enough.

even when i feel you heavy in the air.

hanging damp on my limbs.

i want to soak in your rays.

wade in your shine.

dance in your fire.

as beads of sweat drip down my back.

across my nose.

behind my ear.

i relish.

you warm me.

you darken my skin.

you heat my very soul.

& make me whole again.

::: tour de troit-- part 2

2011-07-20T17:03:00.000-04:00

in detroit's cass corridor.

it's all about signs.

and windows.

and doors.

something ornate.

and visionary.

among the unkept buildings.

and trash scattered streets.

it's known mostly for being run down.

and seedy.

but i think i just might love this stretch of blocks the most.

::: a clear(er) path

2011-07-18T09:08:00.003-04:00

when your life is being molded.

sometimes all you can do.

is make tabbouleh.

pick tomatillos.

come home from work every morning.

find another feather at your feet.

and smile.

watching as the path becomes clear.

may you all find peace in the present journey.

:: small wonder

2011-07-15T09:39:00.000-04:00

details of the week:

finding a feather daily.

corn & cherry scones.

that fabulous, fabulous vinyl as the soundtrack to my days.

here's to next week.

may it be filled with equal amounts of small wonder.

::: finding the balance

2011-07-13T16:30:00.006-04:00

i drove a dear co-worker to her chemotherapy treatment today.

i sat beside her as the drugs infused.

while we waited--

i received word that my best friend had just given birth to her first baby.

i was suspended.

caught in one of life's great transpositions.

stretched between something so outwardly celebratory and miraculous.

and another thing.

so wrought with question one strains to find the lesson within the pain.

i was veiled.

draped all at once in the beauty.

and the ashes.

of a life lived.

and so i came home and found balance in

beads & beans.

beet juice & bird feather.

carrot & calendula.

i knelt on the ground.

and gave thanks.

for all blessings.

for all lessons.

for all joys.

and yes.

even all sorrows.

:: as it were...

2011-07-10T00:53:00.000-04:00

the weekend.

as it were.

was simple.

just.

fresh basil.*

found feathers.

&

endless night.

pure delight.

* i used the basil to make this pesto. and it was worth every second of extra chopping *

::: scones & reflection

2011-07-08T10:33:00.004-04:00

i returned home from work this morning and made blueberry scones.

i ate one hot.

the lemon glaze still dripping.

right alongside a cup of joe.

it was exactly what i craved.

it gave me a few moments to reflect on these summer days.

spent mostly outside.

with my nephew.

as he splashes in his pool.

or on the back steps.

at dusk.

watching the sunset between the trees.

::: carpe diem

2011-07-07T04:45:00.000-04:00

this gorgeous head of cabbage was harvested from the garden.

so crisp. so green.

it made me ever more aware of life.

then.

as i was peeling back the dark outer leaves for cleaning--

i discovered this beautiful little butterfly.

trapped just a moment too long amongst the deepest folds of the cabbage.

& it made me ever more aware of the fact that all things come to an end.

the whole experience left me thankful.

for the beauty in the world around me.

for lepidoptera lessons in carpe diem.

for the gift of another day to spread my wings.

and fly.

::: tour de troit-- part 1

2011-07-05T20:08:00.003-04:00

perhaps it doesn't have the greatest reputation.

but it's pretty darn fabulous to me.

stay tuned for more of these little detroit posts.

i plan on making them a regular feature.

my city. the way i see it.

::: the good stuff

2011-07-04T08:30:00.000-04:00

holiday weekend::

the first broccoli harvest.

some thrifted beauties.

sitting with my nephew in the grass & the garden.

sipping coffee on the kind of cool summer night only a storm can bring.

simple. little. pleasures.

that add up to everything.

:: Summer afternoon... the two most beautiful words in the English language. - Henry James

2011-07-01T14:35:00.005-04:00

sipping my favorite honey oatmeal smoothie--
while listening to
this miss marple mystery
&
this fabulous dylan tune.

planting detroit beets.

admiring the vibrancy of my new purple hose.

contemplating a drive to the grove for a proper barefoot trail run.

happening upon downy bird feathers.

tip-toeing down the rock path to the garden.

hey, july.
welcome to 2011.

enjoy your holiday weekend.

:: simplicity

2011-06-29T13:25:00.002-04:00

eating this salad.

listening to those songs.

and baking these muffins.

::: pablo & yarrow

2011-06-27T14:16:00.005-04:00

I've wandered the world in search of life: / bird by bird I've come to know the earth...

-- PABLO NERUDA
ART OF BIRDS

i've been savoring a new book.

a bird lover since i was a child--
sitting on my grandparents couch &
pouring over vintage birdwatching guides--
i found myself intrigued when i discovered that pablo neruda
had published a volume dedicated solely to
the earth's marvelous winged things.

out of print--
the book was not an easy find.
nor exceptionally cheap.
but what a treasure it is.

it is filled with neruda's silky words.
and poetic genius.
complimented by beautiful etchings and drawings.

if you find a copy.
buy it.
don't think twice.

been marveling, as well, at the generosity of a dear friend.
after hearing my tales of yarrow seed.
she surprised with with a pot of fully grown transplants from her garden.

the beautiful flowers have been on her property for ages.
probably 50 years or more.

it's so inspiring to look at those plants and think:

wow.
you've been on this earth longer than i have.

it's such a reality check.
such a testament to the truth that the earth is so much greater than we.

::: summer night

2011-06-25T21:44:00.003-04:00

a perfect june night.

eating the now infamous collard quesadillas & sipping this ginger soda.

pouring over some immaculate mary oliver poems.

harvesting snap peas.

planting yarrow.

admiring the human-like vein pattern of the broccoli leaf.

and

walking barefoot.

summer love.

:: beekeeping

2011-06-24T12:32:00.006-04:00

{via pinterest}

the bees were mostly awake in their perfect house-- mary oliver

i've been thinking long.

and hard.

on bees.

when i work in the garden.

i can imagine a hive in the corner yard.

near the garage.

i can hear the workers low buzz.

can taste the sweetness of fresh honeycomb.

but, alas.

bees have i not.

then last night i got called into work.

and although every fiber in me was pleading

to stay home with pajama's and poetry--

i went in.

and as it would be.

my patient was a beekeeper.

keeping me up all night with adventure tales from the hive.

stirring my heart with her passion.

promising me that my bees would be my love.

forever.

when my time is right--

she promised me a starter hive.

a seed to a great new adventure.

yes.

indeed i am thinking long.

and hard.

on bees.

:: sun stands still

2011-06-21T16:32:00.004-04:00

today.

for a moment.

the sun will hesitate.

pause at a point.

then twirl in the opposite direction.

we won't feel it.

but we'll know it.

by the exceptionally long presence of the sun.

by the warming of the dirt beneath our feet.

by the hot air blowing through our hair.

and then we'll continue to know it.

for many beautiful summer nights.

oh solstice. nature's holiday.

enjoy.

:: the feather

2011-06-17T08:35:00.000-04:00

"Hope" is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—

- emily dickinson

i returned to the grove.

to walk the path.

and think.

be still.

my heart was heavy with things.

thoughts.

and i felt weighted in a balance between two things unseen.

unspoken.

i grappled for an answer.

for a sign.

and then i happened upon a feather.

i lifted it up.

all dirty, scraggly edged piece of it.

and twirled it by its quill.

they say to find a feather means you're on the right path.

i smiled.

an answer?

perhaps. or perhaps not.

but a calming reminder i am not alone.

nonetheless.

:: the grove: part II

2011-06-15T14:27:00.004-04:00

"Lost in the forest, I broke off a dark twig
and lifted its whisper to my thirsty lips"

- pablo neruda

a gorgeous day.

full of life's natural joys.

there will be many.

many.

returns to this place.

:: the grove

2011-06-14T15:08:00.004-04:00

{polaroid 600 image of "the grove"}

so.

my plans changed.

as plans often do.

and i didn't make it to the campground this past weekend.

however.

never one to let 4 days off go to waste--

i found a little grove in a nearby county park that substituted nicely.

an afternoon among the trees,

birds,

chipmunks,

swans,

and foxes (!)

was just what the doctor ordered.

a full report to come.

:: a beautiful rest

2011-06-08T17:02:00.004-04:00

lounging before i go into work--saturated with the hot hot heat.

obsessing over the collard green quesadillas i keep whipping up.

sneaking a chapter or two of reading in when i can.

anxiously anticipating the weeks end.

a rendezvous with the campground.

so looking forward to waking up among the tree trunks.

the trickling creek.

the sweet sounding bird song.

the dew drenched forest floor.

a beautiful rest, indeed.

:: she lifts her skirt up to her knees. walks through the garden rows with her bare feet. laughing

2011-06-04T12:17:00.004-04:00

{polaroid 600 image of my garden. taken june 4, 2011}

i'm considering the echoing bird song.
the wave-like rush of tree leaves.
tree branches.
the low buzz of fly.
and bee.
the silky embrace of the breeze.
the comfort of the wind's whisper.
the lush blanket of grass blades between my toes.
the hot blush of sun on skin.

i'm savoring my little eden.
the beauty.
glory.
majesty.

of being outdoors.

:: chop. infuse. wander. enjoy.

2011-06-02T17:31:00.005-04:00

fresh garden collard greens cut into a chiffonade for this recipe

chive blossom infused vinegar
& basil-lemon infused water inspired by this post

my newest kingsolver read

citrus beauty

~

loving the weather in michigan.
these late spring days are medicine.

:: first days of summer

2011-05-30T16:54:00.003-04:00

1) garden journal 2) chive blossoms 3) easter egg radishes

it's warm.

actually...

it's more than warm.

it's down right hot.

and i love it.

i've got a mason jar of iced earl grey tea in front of me.

one more chapter left in a riveting novel.

the pink beginnings of a summer tan.

and emmylou harris crooning on vinyl.

life. is. good. indeed.

fri. sat. sun.

2011-05-22T15:59:00.004-04:00

fri. sat. sun::

detroit art.

earthworks community garden.

thrifted van morrison vinyl.

hot crop transplants.

salad-- direct from the garden:
(with homemade poppy seed dressing, goat cheese,
and bagel top w/fresh dill butter)

& a flat-out fabulous read.

sweet .
weekend .
redemption.

:: bread & syrup

2011-05-19T06:25:00.001-04:00

my dapples in sunflower seed soda bread.

and dandelion syrup.

both incredibly delicious.

i suggest preparing a batch of the syrup
before dandelion season is past us.

:: gold dust woman

2011-05-17T08:43:00.000-04:00

{all images via google}

been loving stevie nicks.

circa 1970's.

anybody with me?

:: the detroit zoo

2011-05-15T10:38:00.003-04:00

spent saturday at the detroit zoo.

it rained.

but no worries.

a lovely afternoon was still had by all.

:: without facebook.

2011-05-06T08:16:00.004-04:00

i did something dramatic.

sort of.

i deleted facebook.

and while that should have been no big deal.

it was.

calls and e-mails poured in from everyone i knew.

where was my facebook?

did i block everyone?

deleted?!

why did i do it?

and my answer was simple.

because i lived 22 years without it.

and i was ready to live without it again.

i thought at first that it would be hard.

but in actuality-- it's been quite the opposite.

i've found myself genuinely enjoying the smaller things::

like lying there and really, really listening

to the passion and love in johnny & june's voices on vinyl.

or taking the time to read a great book--

one that makes me yearn for a life far, far off the grid.

or diving deep into fabulous cookbooks--

and taking note of the beautiful way the late afternoon light plays off their bindings.

it's been refreshing in other ways too.

when i had breakfast with my friend the other day--

things had happened in her week that i didn't know about.

i hadn't seen any status updates--

so we had so so much to discuss.

and my other friend--

she's pregnant.

so i've missed a few weeks of "bump" pictures.

and what a joy it was to see her in all her beautiful glory for the first time in awhile.

and then i have another friend.

whom i rarely see.

that i panicked over for a split second after i deleted my account.

how would i communicate with her?

facebook was our connection.

and so--

to ease my mind--

i called her.

and we actually talked.

and it was way better than facebook could ever be.

in the teeny-tiniest of ways.

a life without facebook

makes me feel

alive.

:: fri. sat. sun.

2011-05-01T14:58:00.003-04:00

a peek into my weekend.

not pictured:

a trip to whole foods.
taco cookluck.
homemade mango-infused iced black tea.
a saturday night filled with the weeks podcasts.
a sunday afternoon with my nephew.
cookbook perusing & this american life.

the best kind of weekend.