on a saturday

nesting

+

beautiful books

written in french

with lovely faces

can you see the face on the page?

+

old polaroid cameras

im outta film dang it

*

a blissful trip to t.j maxx

bad christina

thoughts of making boeuf bourguignon

* 

mopping the kitchen floor

+ 

laundry

*

leaning toward an all time favorite movie

"you've got mail"

*

coffee

while letter writing 

*

inviting beauty in

*

happy saturday

my friends

; )

the suns beat

today i awoke to the sun shinning, how beautiful. the sun is doing the most amazing dance across my walls, at the moment. i refused to sit this one out, so i smile to myself and twirl my pen, to the suns beat.
a few of you have asked about my camera equipment. i do not own a macro lens, but have been looking, so any suggestions on your favorite amongst canon, would be appreciated.
i shoot with a canon 50d~ Gordon is his name : )
always natural light
until 2005 i shot in film, and carried the very heavy equipment of a dear, eccentric, photographer around.
"old school" photography mentors/teachers are the best. they begin at A and finish teaching at Z. I dig that!
phooey on flashes, but i have one for evening, indoor events.
almost always a camera hood, except when i am craving sun.
i believe great photos, come from great lenses, not big expensive cameras. size doesn't matter------------ silence, dead silence. okay, im gwan stop here. lol : )
lets see... i think that's all.
+
i have fun with photography, a ton of fun. no worries!
shout out to all these amazing bloggers+ flickr folks, who are the real deal, behind the cameras.
one love~

grateful

i couldn't help but weave these glorious, paper hearts, through my palms. they were made with such love, and traveled all the way from an austrian country side, to find me. these hearts remind me of love... sheer love. thank you my sweet country girl, for the gift of jewels. you are incredibly talented and kind. a special wink to Se'lah, for hosting this amazing exchange.

sigh for the beauty of this four leaf clover, and antique book. a previous owner, of the book, inscribed it with the most beautiful handwriting, from 1913. double swoon!
"the rose gives out perfume to everyone who comes near, so should the fragrance of our love be bountiful and all-giving."
from the book~"thoughts from a village garden"

is your week going good? im working and keeping busy. i am also, SO loving the olympics! i become a fountain of tears, watching these athletes take to the podium. : ) i love watching dreams unfold, into the most beautiful of realities. pages of books call me before bed, my lens has me dreaming of possibilities and springs promise continues to fill me, with hope.
even with the most dreary winter days, i can feel love has found me... and for that i am So very grateful.
peace

come on in

on this Sunday..

it's slow slow

walks along less traveled trails

newspaper sprawled everywhere

flowers in an old jelly jar

books resting on the chests of those napping

 a deep sigh for the beauty of books

miles davis plays me a tune from an old dusty

quilts for the taking

fried chicken hot out of grandma's cast iron skillet

collard greens + cornbread ready for the taking

*

it's Sunday

my friends

*

one love

long country roads

last weekend we went away

+

we left the city behind

*

long country roads became our friends

*

the to do lists were forgotten

the chores  were put on hold

*

 in an antique store i found a tattered e.e. cummings book of poetry

+

an old pentax film camera

swoon!

an old snowy inn was our destination

+

time stood still

*

happy snowy saturday!

6:55am

tulips drenched in just the perfect amount of sunlight and haze~ move my emotions in ways i can't even explain.
i seriously dig that!
happy weekend, my friends.

that new baby smell

seeing a newborn child warms me with...

 a love that is one in a million

poetry that has yet to be written

songs yet to be sung

*

i am convinced that new baby smell surely must be the breath of God

blown upon a child 

blessing him with life 

+

 filling him with hope

*

my new baby cousin~ j.d. 

resting his tiny hand inside his daddy's palm

9.5lbs

*

one love~

just being

hey there. how have you been? it seems as though, i'm welcoming the stillness, that has found me. my body says rest, and i listen with, compassionate ears. i am good. so very good.
i am enjoying the beauty of~ just being. smiling at how tears form in her eyes, when she watches a sad movie, or how he waves to the neighbors with one hand, and drags the trash to the can, with the other. life in slow, slow motion.
not too many words today... i believe i make a much better blog reader, than writer, today. wink! so i shall happily head your way, to catch up with your beautiful, thoughts. : ) big smiles!
one love~

so very loved

*

happy valentines day

my friends

*

you are loved

*

so very loved

*

; )

22

twenty- two years ago i married my best friend

we were barely adults and we thought we had it all worked out...

we would live on love and in between time we would change the world

for the better

*

such plans we had

; )

well changing the world had to be put on hold for real life

and along the way there were many dreams that were achieved 

but some that were tucked away behind our hearts for later

along side of hopes that faded into someday

*

the journey of marriage taught us much

and when we stood at the alter that day many years ago

i never realized i would...

hold his hand when his mother was dying

stand at the grave of the man who helped him become a man

have the strength to just listen when words wouldn't do

see our first gray hairs appear

see us shake our heads at the news asking

 what is this world coming to?

put our children's needs before my own without a thought

be lucky enough to have him watch over me all night 

as i became a fatherless daughter

*

over these years when the merry go round of life 

became too fast paced for me

he never left me behind

always believing in me

round 

+ 

round

 it would go

yet

he would always reach his hands for me helping me get on this life ride

stretching himself in ways that were unimaginable to help me catch up

never leaving me behind

"you can do it baby"

*

he cups his palms to catch my tears

and wakes me up at times to show me the moon is my night light

he comes in the house each evening hugs the kids and ask them

"where is my girlfriend?"

he makes me laugh until i cry

and he always reminds me

"there is nothing we can't make it through"

i never take him for granted

and love that i have known this boy  man since grade school

*

this morning the anniversary cake arrived

+

 tonight a simple meal will be shared with family and friends

*

and when we are alone i will whisper to him my secrets

and i will listen to his

i hope...

we giggle because giggling is fun

 speak once again about our dreams

 revisit our plans on how we will change the world

and gain strength and love for the next chapter

because today is...

someday

+

later

+

 i wouldn't change a thing about this life of ours

i love him

and would do it all over again in a heart beat

*

have a beautiful day

*

peace

6:45am

it was so very early as i headed out this morning

the storm last night hit us hard

between the row houses i found...

trees still and heavy 

shadows doing a slow stretch preparing for the days dance with the wind

smoke coming from brick chimneys

the snow drifting leaving a pattern like waves touching sand near the sea

a sleepy sun staggering to form it's rays through the clouds

the color blue painting it's way across the sky

mmm... that blue sky

i have come to believe the most high paints with colors no artist has yet to discover

and 

i dig that

*

i plan on keeping warm today

being thankful for a heated home and an afternoon off

+

postal stamps

swoon!

+

flipping through old magazines 

+

chilling my lemon cookie dough

+

dreaming about making the perfect hash browns for dinner

one love 

my friends

: )

purple soars and if this kitchen could talk

"I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it."
Alice Walker
I adore that quote, especially when purple soars through my lens, as the sun sets. Deep sigh, for beauty.
The snow is falling outside of my window, and I am welcoming the blanket of silence, the snow brings to the city.
In my kitchen I'm rolling out cookie dough, I'm using my grandmothers old, wooden, rolling pin... I honestly wouldn't have it, any other way. : ) The memory of her, and this kitchen, warms me.
I can't help but smile, thinking about the deep discussions about fried chicken, we had around here, this past weekend. Oh, if this kitchen could talk. For as many years, as I have been in the culinary world, fried chicken (to me) remains the top food, that stirs the most passionate, discussions. I'm working on a(very opinionated- wink)article, about this glorious food, and the deadline is today. More on that later.
: )
I really want to take a moment, to thank Bee, for matching our donation, to doctors without borders, during the simple things. Thank you, thank you.
One love + happy tuesday!

"where we blog from"

i'm visiting over at the beautiful blog, Ill Seen, Ill said, today. i am hoping to you will stop in and say hello + see a bit of where i blog from . so bring your coffee or tea, and enjoy a most lovely blog. deep sigh, for the beauty going on, over there. : )
happy monday!

a paradise of sweet things and a deep sigh for love

..."as i walked between rows of lighted shop-windows, and those windows on that night seemed a display of all that was good on earth, of a paradise of sweet things."
from the book "Wind, Sand And Stars, by Antoine De Saint~ Exupery.

This book holds inside of it, some of the most beautiful words, my heart has ever tucked away, for safe keeping. Honestly, if I am blessed, to become an old, old woman- I hope that these words sit beside the faces of my family, in my memories.
Today, I am filled with dreams + celebrations + memories. And that can never a bad thing. This weekend, I will swirl butter cream frosting in my mixer, and sway to Caribbean beats, as I prepare the food, my son has requested, for his born day celebration. Sigh... my buddy has grown into a young man. When did this happen? Happy birthday, to all the Robert's of the world! Especially my sweet boy. Deep sigh, for love. Love to all the born people, in February.
And speaking of love... Jacqueline,  I will be sending a bit of love your way, so please email me, your snail mail addy.
Love is in the air.
Happy weekend! And thank you from the bottom of my heart, for spending this pretty and lovely week, with me.
One love~

moon kisses and candy hearts

i am sipping my coffee out of a purple mug, on this cold and dreary morning.
the words of Rumi, warm me more than the coffee.
"each night
the moon kisses
secretly
the lover
who counts
the stars."
mix matched socks, messy hair and candy hearts, find themselves part of my morning. i will take a morning of stillness, in whatever way it appears.
 : )  come as you are february.
black history books, await me on my old farm table. and essays wait to be graded. what i get done, will get done, what i don't, will just have to wait. swoon~ at being okay, with that : )
i wrote a letter to my friend today, in a fuchsia colored pen... because blue just won't do.
i am wrapping a bit of love today, to be sent your way this weekend. if you like a good valentine, leave a comment on this post. i will draw a name tomorrow... and a goodie, will soar your way.
are you enjoying the week? i adore that you are stopping in, and saying hello. as always, please leave a light on for me, i will be visiting you soon.
: )
happy thursday, my friends.
one love~

grace and soul's life

this morning, as i prepared for my train ride into work, i packed my bag. inside  my backpack, i placed my camera, (of course), a book of poetry, by Hafiz, a bag of popcorn, recipes on bread making, and freeze dried, raspberry powder + my ipod.
last week, i added haruku nakarmura's~ grace, to my ipod. i fell in love, after one song... then filled my ipod, with the whole c.d. ~ double swoon! take a listen when you, have time ; ) all these necessities ( wink) made for the perfect, train ride.
"we are people who need love,
because love is the soul's life,
love is simply creations, greatest joy."
hafiz
one love~

a love for flower petals

this week of pretty, is starting out just lovely. i curled up on my bedroom sofa last night, and read each word you placed here. your kindness, has never gone unnoticed. thank you.
dinner last night, was spinach and artichoke dip, along side tortilla chips. i made the chips in grandma's cast iron skillet. and i do believe that is a guarantee, the recipe will always turn out.
slow slow today...

i found that one of my lovely roses, were fading. i couldn't bare to part with it yet, so i put it's petals in an old mason jar. as I gently unfolded it's layers, i was amazed at it's beauty. i reminded myself, how i would take time to look at february~ deeply + lovingly. i have a love+ appreciation, for flower petals.

the name my son picked (from the fish bowl) to receive a valentine is...
my farm house kitchen
and because my daughter, thought it was unfair that her brother got to pick a name, she chose... my life my life my life
and because love is in the air, i dug in the fish bowl and picked... beth.
please send me your snail mail addresses, so i can mail you a bit of love.
more valentines recipients, will be chosen on thursdays post. 
peace

dearest february

dearest february, 
you are the month of love...
cupcakes+ more cupcakes ; )
paper valentines waiting to be mailed
dinner reservations with high heels or converse sneaks
roses
+ yes mam, i buy flowers for myself (of sweet course) + hubby contributes to my love of petals often. he was the one that began my love affair, with all things flower related. ; )
time with girlfriends + apple martinis
or a red stripe and sweet potato fries ; )
love poems by langston hughes, taking me by the hand...
"with the touch of your hand
nor the sweet of your lips alone"
love poems cradling me to sleep, by pablo neruda
"in my sky at twilight you are like a cloud
and your form and colour are the way i love them."
february is pretty on the inside... look close, look deep.
so i will place pretty here this week in hopes that it will brighten your day
february fills us with hopes of march + april + love
please leave a comment on this post (if you'd like) and i will place a bit of love in and envelope...
and in your direction it will soar... i  will pick a name tomorrow.
a sweet surprise to celebrate the month of love
one love~