i wrapped a scarf around my neck.
this afternoon.
and took a quick jaunt.
to midtown.

popping into my favorite shop.
to stock up on basil soaps.
and frida kahlo candles.

before visiting the bakery.
for twine-wrapped mozzarella sandwiches.
and kombucha.

i came home.
and sat at the picnic table.
nibbling on lunch.
and savoring a kingsolver novel.

**

a chill is in the air today.
but i'm alright with that.

i feel like the earth.
is back where it should be.

waiting for the warmth.

the warmth of sun and tea.

savoring every.
delicate.
meaningful word.
and image.
in this georgia o'keeffe book.

i sift through it.
sitting in a beam of sun.
on the back porch.
soaking in the warmth.
of the sky.
and the loose-leaf earl gray.
in my desert mug.

**

the chives have sprouted.

i'm standing.
at the edge of another harvest.

poetry and coffee

gifted mukluks.
cold coffee.
woolgathering.
and poetry on vinyl.

**

the walls and doors.
rattle in the wind.
i'm thankful.
and warm.
inside my chamber.

**

this song is the soundtrack.

discovering skyr

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.


***

housekeeping::

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.

:: the bookstore

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.

::: 'round here...

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.

- ernest hemingway
"a moveable feast"

::: dusk light

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.

:: as it were...

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 *

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

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.

::: pablo & yarrow

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

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.

:: chop. infuse. wander. enjoy.

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.

:: spring reads

the books keeping me busy this spring.



what are you reading?

:: weekend inspiration

spent the weekend-

stocking up on essentials
(and a few non-essentials)
from trader joe's.


catching up with fabulous old friends.

sipping cinnamon laced yerba mate.

watching a red wings game.

and being inspired by these albums:

and these books:

hope your weekend was just as refreshing.