since you brought the poetry

You brought poetry~
you made the simple things sheer poetry...
violins
happy tears
stillness
and
moon dances
You assured my heart, there is more good than bad in the world.
You wrote me beautiful handwritten letters on your blogs, and left kind comments.
i lay in my bed at night
under the same sky as you
somehow closer now
sharing our journeys
our world
Chocolate! Oh, you all made me smile with the chocolate on your lists, and family time, and Haiti.
yes haiti...
i rub my palms together and shake my head
closing my eyes tightly
hearing the magic of haitian kreyol leaving tongues
and for a moment i see the blue caribbean sea that connects us
connecting us all
only my child's voice shakes me from my thought
i have faith you will shine once again
love will heal

You will never know how much coming together, for the simple things, means to me.
The friendships~ isn't that what blogging is about; visiting, making friends, sharing words... ah, the friendships. that thought warms me, deeply.

I thought since you brought the poetry, I would bring the tulips and chocolate gelato.
So, hold up your spoons ( chocolate gelato time) and wave goodbye to January. Our love outweighed the toughness, that January had placed on our paths.
Deep sigh for the beauty, you handed the simple things.
Happy tears.
Please join me in February. It's the month of love... and you know how much, I love sending love your way.
Thank you
thank you
one love~

words

i am not able to find the words yet... 

your generosity 

your time

your comments

your kindness...

i thank you from the bottom of my heart

i will stop in tomorrow with an update

*

blessings 

+

one love

the simple things~ and an update ; )

update

185.00 will be donated to doctors without borders

thank you all SO very much

dear january, we love you but, it's time to show you who's boss! my friends and i are posting the simple things in life, that we appreciate. we will weave our words with love, gratefulness, meaning and spunk.

no matter how big or small, we will bring light with the simple things. 

; )

hey everyone, please leave a comment (with your blog link) so the bloggers can visit one another for our simple things. if your blog name leads to your blog, that's cool too. even if you aren't playing along or don't have a blog, come on and say hello. for each blog that participates, my family will donate $1.00, to doctors without borders. 

up to 250.00

have fun and thank you from the bottom of my heart

*

the simple things that make my soul sing

*

red rain boots splashing in the rain

dancing with my husband

*

mixed matched chairs at a table where...

bills are written

meals are eaten

prayers are said

*

a roof over our heads

a warm bed

the sound of a cello

sharpies

pink roses as a bookmark in the book of Daniel

clean clothes

*

love

*

muddy puppy footprints

reading fairy tales

white chocolate

dark chocolate

milk chocolate

*

handwritten letters

a pot of red bean and rice on the stove

the smell of anise

*

old comfy pajamas

hugs

the coo of a baby

*

poetry filled with...

hope

fields of flowers

love

and

blue skies

*

warm milk and honey before falling asleep

rain on a tin roof~ hello jamaica

*

never will watching a bird soar get old to me

happy tears

the tango

*

reaching my palms toward the sky by the sea

as if to say

im *still* standing

*

charcoal sketches

clean water

*

telling a friend i have never met before...

i will be the one wearing the red mittens

*

grilled cheese

+

tomato soup

*

cupcakes

feta and olives

a warm baguette of bread shared in the park

wine in old jelly jars

*

drug store cosmetics

remembering her words...

"look up baby He can't see your face if your always looking down"

*

finding a way

when you didn't think there was a way

eh naw

*

sunday drives down old country roads

compassion

looking into the eyes of my children

*

bodegas

old typewriters

meeting nice people

the hum of the heater

that old library smell

*

miss watson telling me to tell my mother something

then saying...

"you ear me naw?"

lol

yes mam

*

tea kettles whistling

hope that swirls promises of spring

finding out we are are stronger than we knew

*

 faith...

that our fallen brothers and sisters of haiti are enveloped in His love

and greeted by angels with warm wings

may you walk the streets of gold and never be forgotten

mwen renmen ou haiti

*

one love

the old hawkeye with a pink daisy

is your tuesday going well? i certainly hope so. there is pink loveliness
going on, over at liz's place. so i just had to dress up the old hawkeye, with a pink daisy : )
slow... slow... simple... simple.
i want to live this beautiful tuesday, with all my soul.
i hope to see you for the simple things tomorrow. welcome to all the new friends, who are leaving
comments. swoon!
one love

8am

this morning i placed a handful of flowers, in an old canning jar. in a messy fashion, i might add.
there was sunshine for a moment, then it was gone. i'd like to believe, the sun came out to join me for coffee, and left to go visit other bloggers, who are dealing with much rain ; )
and thank you, for all the kind and encouraging words, on the post below.
how was your weekend?
one love~

simple info- part 3

hi there
i'm just stopping in to remind everyone, that i will be hosting the simple things, wednesday, january 27. here+ here are a few examples.
it seems that january, can be a tough month for some of us.
the blahs, the rain, the snow, trying to make sense of the world.
i think it's time we show january, who's boss! : )
let's show what we appreciate, and what we are grateful for- no matter how big or small, these things may seem.
so if you feel like joining in- post on your blog (wednesday) link back here, and leave a comment (leading back to your blog) on my simple things post, so we all can visit the blogs involved. i usually make a list of bloggers playing along, but i will skip that part this time around, to save time.  
and please, if you can't join in, i understand, no worries. : )
for each blog that joins in on the fun, my family will donate, $1.00, to doctors without borders. we see you haiti, we haven't forgotten you.
hmm... last time we had about 60 or 70 blogs join in. i'm wondering if we can get 100, this time ; ) am i dreaming? well, i might as well, dream big, for a good cause. : ) we are able to donate up to 250.00. please come as you are, post by midnight (central time) on wednesday... and have fun!!!
the simple things... being able to buy shoes for your kids* a hot espresso* a hot date* a home* warm towels* clean sheets*books to read*a chicken roasting in the oven* alone time* hearing the words- i love you* wearing red lipstick for no reason*that baby smell*watching grandma play boxing on wii. : )
one love*
ps: you are welcome to use the simple things badge, on my side bar.
see ya wednesday, I can't wait to read your list, prose, poems or whatever. come as you are. : )

what flows from my heart

on monday, my feet touched the floor of my bedside...
i gave thanks to see another day
wished brother martin a happy birthday
and as a family we walked out the door

quietly we stood in line, outside of a church. i had my photo equipment in tow... my knees shaking. i get nervous before i work. ; ) i was was the photographer, hired to capture the mlk day celebration, at this particular church. uhem... me. : ) as more people gathered, i removed my camera from my bag.
i photographed people that held hope, and held on.
inside of this church, the celebration rumbled through my lens, straight to my heart. when the choir began to sing, their notes went straight to my veins. the voices of angels, will give sinners, as well as the strong, goosebumps.
even though this was a job, i felt every moment of it.
i watched my little family sit in a church pew.
i chuckled at the idea of them coming to the event, to watch me work.
i watched my son and daughter
i just want them to be loving and compassionate people
walk with humility
love is what i feel, ya know?
my son and daughter, watched photos pass on the large screen, in celebration of dr. kings life. the kids smiled my way, when photos included their great-grandfather standing beside dr. king, appeared on the screen.
*
haiti was remembered as well.
the rhythm of these caribbean accents, coming from the podium, broke me.
haiti beats in my heart daily, especially before bed
my palms claps together for you haiti, my palms reach toward the sky for you, with grief
i fall and struggle to get up inside
i get up, because i know this is what haiti, would want me to do
stand proud with faith, for haiti
after the celebration, we went to the grocery store, before heading home.
i placed eggs, milk and bread in my cart. coffee and cream, along with chicken nuggets, and yo- yo's, were added to the buggy, at the last minute.
: )
i thank you for allowing me, to share what has been on my heart. sometimes it's hard for me to write, what flows from my heart. i plan on changing that in 2010.
one love~

deep reds

a lovely old tin match box i found the other day 

while at the antique store

*

papers need to be corrected 

*

roses and butterscotch sun rays 

i don't want to forget them anytime soon

*

a bunch of basil waits on the counter 

to be torn over a plum tomato and mushroom sauce 

*

deep reds paint my thursday 

*

ps: i have noticed january is a tough month for some of us

i am thinking of the simple things for next week

no rules come as you are

you can read about it here

how about wednesday jan 27th?

let's show january who's boss

; )

*

one love

standing at the counter

i am slow, slow moving this morning. january does that to me. sigh.
i stayed up last night, reading a book called "the brooklyn follies".i have heard so many good things about it. i love it so far.
yesterday i started cracking up laughing, when people looked my way, as i squealed, flipping through the film i had developed. remember those days, standing at the counter, going through your pics? sparkle sparkle
looking forward to February~ it's the month of love. and i seriously dig that.
how is your wednesday, so far?
peace

treasure and she had me

there is so much fun to be had, when treasure hunting. i was out and about, at a antique store this weekend, and did i have fun! as you can tell (from the photo above) one of my finds was this gorgeous, old postal scale. i fell deep in love. swoon! i positively adore old scales. i had been eyeing this sweet thing for months, but i wouldn't dare ; ) no mam, thank you very much ; ) this scale was meant to be. maybe one of you can come over and help me shine it up? or we could just leave it the way it is, and drink tea and eat cookies. eh naw!
the scale above, was $20. score!  and it is loved by all, in it's new home. : )
i am always amazed, by the boxes of photos that i sift through, at these stores.
who were these people?
what did they do for a living?
is this where my photos will end up?
i often feel like i am invading a certain privacy, when i look at these people, in their family photos.  i get a twinge at the thought of them, being gone. bless their hearts. i stood still, when i found one of those old wedding photos, where the couple isn't smiling and you keeping looking for a glimpse of love, and head straight to the eyes, seeking emotion ; )  i always look, but never have i had the nerve to buy any ; ) this past weekend i almost got my nerve up, to purchase a wonderful photo book, of black and whites. this young woman, this young woman was so beautiful...
she was snapping photos of herself, and she had those stockings on. you know the ones, that have the black lines going up the back. she was fierce, with that camera she used.
she was before her time
she was brave 
she made me brave
she had me
i love that.
one love~

on a monday

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness 

only light can do that. 

Hate cannot drive out hate 

only love can do that"

*

"I have decided to stick with love. 

Hate is too great a burden to bear."

*

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

Martin Luther King jr. 

*

my rose print above is now available for sale at craft hope for haiti.

im hoping you can head over and take a look, there are so many wonderful crafters involved.

peace

my friends

ps: thank you, thank you for your kindness.

: )

it's really about sunday

it really began about the buttermilk biscuits
then the cranberry pear jam
it's really about sunday
the newspaper is sprawled on the floor
cold but sunny outside
quilts in the family room
football playing on the t.v in the background
watching the most beautiful hands knit
i went looking for treasures
thrift stores + antique stores
i can't wait to share my finds with you~ double swoon!
have you heard about the love that craft hope, is spreading? let's show em some love~ i am honored to donate my photographs, maybe you will catch it on their etsy site sometimes today ; ) take a look at all the goodies. and let's do some real shopping.
one love

the moments

i am enjoying the moments

cleaning my closets

unsubscribing to pesky emails

waking up in a warm bed

loving a new fresh out of the closet reading lamp

stacking books

and

magazines to read

i don't know about you

but i am just not finished paging through my holiday recipes

: )

peanut butter brownies are not just for the holidays

*

i have chicken and veggies roasting in the oven

a simple dish of chicken and egg noodles for dinner

and a biscuit or two should warm us up

just enjoying the everyday

and roses

yes the roses

in an old hot chocolate tin

*

we see you haiti

you are on our minds

we send you love

 we send you prayers

*

peace

i find that light

i bought these roses for my desk the other day

and to my surprise when i arrived home at 4:30pm

it wasn't dark in the house

there was sun setting across my desk

day was taking it's time

turning to night

the light of the day stretched for all of us in need

in need of the sun

longing for extra daylight

to illuminate our paths

to find our way home a bit easier

*

i find that light to be beautiful

: )

i...

i am a chef and a photographer of all things urban and pretty.
i want to visit ireland so bad it hurts. i listen to irish music daily.
i buy books weekly. i am obsessed. i am also a recipe writer and a writer of all things that touch my heart.
i became a "chef" at the age of 16, at a diner when~ i was working as a waitress there and i was too shy to ask people for their orders. the chef happen to quit that night. My boss rushed me to the kitchen and gave me an apron and told me i didn't have to talk to anyone in the kitchen~ "just cook!". it was just the beginning. lol
i love love people but am a loner.
i keep a book on my desk that is a tribute to chef patrick clark~ always. he was one of the great ones.
i am a mama first
i am deeply, deeply in love, with my husband. he is one of the great ones.
i still haven't figured out, what i want to do with my life. Ya know, when i grow up ; )And schedules scare the hell out of me. it's not as though i am irresponsible, i am always where i am supposed to be, but time frames and dates, make me anxious.
my mother and father, both attended the high school of the arts. hence the schedule thing. : )
10 things about me~
i am honored that the beautiful Gigi, asked me to play along. let me know if join in.
happy monday!

on writing

i have love for the color gray

 shooting film

snow angels

shaking the handle of a pan over a flame

 red mittens

 cinematography

*

 a few years ago

 i  watched my daughter dance on stage and my eyes well up with

 the

deepest

tears

a ballerina

i felt the beauty of a mother of course

but trembled at the depth of the art

*

once

 on a sunday

 i heard a preacher

preach

the glory of God

i swore each person in that church could feel my heart beating

*

i remember

 watching a storm blow in one morning

and then the afternoon sun arrive

*

i love witnessing

what women are made of

strength

bravery

tenderness

power

love

*

i hope you aren't sick of my snow shots from this week

; )

these snow photographs are speaking to my soul

inspiring me to paint the sky a deep velvet blue

 with my pen again

*

one love

my friends

*

urban pretty

so so early in the morning

the snow has brought with it

a hush to the streets

*

in the summer time i can never imagine the streets being so silent

the trains

 buses

 and

 sticky necks

kicking off extra heat to the streets

in the summer

*

from where i am standing now

it appears as though i live on a one way street

an urban one way street

nope

 i don't think i ever noticed that before

*

the winter takes me by the hand

allowing me to

dream more

write

brave the traffic for a shot through the lens

*

i want to wrap these winter stills in a pink bow

for me

and you

so i don't forget how pretty this morning was

 handed to me

 for the taking

*

one love

the world i say

Today is left over hoppin john and cornbread. Don't forget the collard greens. : )
and reading cookbooks like novels
i have a new find to share with you this week. swoon!
writing in journals
falling in love with the idea of making tarts
catching up on blog reading
cold but quiet mornings
left over reese's white chocolate peanut butter xmas trees
calendars and more calendars * they are an obsession of mine.
finding love of course
i mailed a few packages
+
sparkle* sparkle*
and when you have time to listen here and we can dance together, like we don't have a care in the world.
; )
A reminder to enter the giveaway (for one of my photos) over at this sweet girls blog. The dead line is tomorrow. There are other goodies to win, as well.
Thank you for your kind comments, you all mean the world to me.
Peace

soup and love

remember that soup i made this weekend?

i started thinking i made too much

*

as kids tend to do...

ours are growing up

and so

they were at the mall...

roller skating

here and there

and all that

jazz

; )

i moaned and groaned about having to freeze the soup

then

our neighbors came home with their new born baby...

i sent my son over with a dinner of soup and french bread...

; )

a knock on the back door came from a childhood friend who has his ups and downs...

some of you may remember him

*

i don't always know what to say

but i hope i always speak with love

i am far from perfect

no poetry found it's way off my tongue

i love you for real but you gotta get your shit together

sit now 

and 

let me warm you

sigh

*

... so i listened

+

 allowing his soul to speak

*

grandma irene raised me up

*

i placed soup in front of my friend

honey atop the wooden table

and

warm bread

*

we spoke about

life

 promises

the weather

and

paradise

*

 the radio played in the background

but

i couldn't tell you one song that played

*

we prayed together before my old friend left

i really tried to hold it all in

refrain from breaking on the outside

allow the tears to puddle in the corners of my eyes

ya know

keep a strong face for my friend

build up hope for a king

expect nothing more from him as a man

 but to try

*

the soup is gone and i am so glad not a drop went to waste

*

one love

my friends

brrr...

it was -3 degrees when i headed to the post office this morning

*

brrr

*

so i am planning on trying to stay warm

fuzzy socks

blankets

+

 the pages of the most glorious book called

ect.

by

sibella court

*

deep sigh for beauty

: )

cheddar broccoli soup on the stove

bread baking in the oven

*

i have been loving reading your blogs

and truly appreciate the welcome lights you leave on for me

+

 this just made me beam

+

isn't that a lovely blog

swoon!

; )

it seems my word for 2010 has found me

sparkle |ˈspärkəl|verb [ intrans. ]shine brightly with flashes of light; )

i seriously dig that

*

stay warm

x

ps: i SO want to mention that ali edwards has been the inspiration for me

and

so many others

for these

"one little word projects"

i send her love

; )