:: what the water gave me

-lake michigan--september 2011-

Time it took us--
To where the water was.
That’s what the water gave me.

-florence and the machine



loving this new song.
so perfect.

currents...

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.

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.


***

snow + brunch + twinkle lights

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.

maple syrup and winter snow

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.

eggs & oxfords

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.

:: detroit + beckett ::

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

: image + lyric + quote :

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

::: random/weekend shots + musings.

...

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.

::: things that speak to me...

{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.

::: thrifted. + plucked. + picked.

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.


++

:: small wonder

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.

:: 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.

:: simplicity

eating this salad.

listening to those songs.

and baking these muffins.

:: gold dust woman

{all images via google}




been loving stevie nicks.

circa 1970's.

anybody with me?

:: 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.

:: truth

riding the wave here.

this wave of frigid temps
and gray skies.

i can make it till spring.
i know i can.

the memory of warm rays
of glowing sunshine
kissing my skin--
keeps me hanging on.

this song--
which has been on constant repeat--
is helping too.

enjoy.

:: john. paul. george. ringo.

any true beatles fan will appreciate
-- and most likely share --
my minor obsession & fascination
with this print.

max dalton has created a work of genius.
& it's all too unfortunate that this gem
was produced in a small quantity--
and already sold out.

the redeeming quality, however,
being that it's available
to view online--
as evidenced by this enthusiastic post.

i discovered this beauty at pinterest.
a little website where i've been browsing a lot, as of late.
i started up my own board.

so---

come. pin. be inspired.