hooping therapy

So, it's Tuesday. I just came home from a very long day with preschoolers. I am tired but also in need of a laugh, a mood lifter. What's a girl to do? Well, it's nothing a little hooping won't cure.

T and I bought hoops earlier in the year just for fun. We keep them hanging on the back of the garage--colorful circles against a mint green background. At the time, we didn't realize that it would be such good therapy, that we would go to the hoops when we were in a bad mood and needed a lift. The circular motion of the hoop is quite hypnotic once you get into a groove...rather like a meditation. And inevitably, there will be a moment when you drop the hoop and smile while picking it up only to begin again.

Now, when company comes for a visit, you can be assured that there will be hooping hijinx in the backyard. We also like to bring them to cookouts...our friends love to hoop with a beer in hand. Also, hooping makes for great photos--the motion of the hoop, hips shimmying, arms in the air.

This photo of T hooping is now my new desktop photo. It's a reminder to not take life so seriously...a reminder to laugh and be silly. A reminder to "hoop it up" when I'm feeling overwhelmed and stuck. If you haven't tried hooping since grade school, I would highly recommend it. They make hoops larger and heavier these days and it's really quite easy. I even found a site that teaches you how to make your own hoop as the larger hoops are definitely more expensive than the toy hoops for children.

See more photos..and some self-portrait/hooping shots at flickr.

On a side note, I am on a quest to find the best croissants and cannoli in NYC. Can anyone help? :)

Off to do a little hooping before I settle in for some afternoon baking. I feel like Tuesday calls for oatmeal cookies and milk.

Hope your day is progressing nicely.
Shari

play a train song

*the above photo was taken last summer on our trip from Denver through Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier, Portland, Redwoods, Mendocino, to the Grand Canyon and back*

Good morning, Monday.

This will be a short week for me as T and I head off to visit friends in NYC. I am SO very excited as I haven't been to NYC in almost 3 years. And this trip will be very different...instead of staying in a tiny room at the Hudson we will be bunking with friends in their tiny apartment on the Upper West Side.

And, to officially make this an adventure, we will be taking Amtrak from Durham, NC to Penn Station. Most of our friends find this silly. By plane, NYC is about an hour away. We, however, will be enjoying a 10 hour trip via rail. I have never taken a true passenger train anywhere. And while I may be romanticizing it a bit, I am looking forward to a whole day on the train. I will be bringing along my computer, a few DVD's, music, magazines, books, cards, and of course, my trusty camera. I think it will be a whole new way to see the American countryside.

Which leads me to asking for your help. Some of you lucky ones live in NYC and others visit regularly. Please send along your recommendations for things that we shouldn't miss. Specifically, I am interested in favorite restaurants/cafes and any special exhibits/gallery shows that are going on as we speak. Oh and feel free to send an email if you've got lots to say. (thanks to Risa for sending me her favorites already...I'm printing them up to bring with me!)

My last post will be this Wednesday (except for 5 Senses Friday...live from NYC...how fun) and I won't post again until the following Wednesday March 8th.


Looking forward to reading about your favorite places!
xo
S

and then there were two

After a delicious morning of sleeping in, we all awoke to the brightest blue skies and what appeared to be warm sunshine. As we walked to T's favorite diner, Elmo's, we soon realized it was deceptively cold. The wind made matters worse. I even had to use my scarf to cover my head and ears as we fought the wind with each step, searching out the warmth of the crowded diner.

And crowded it was! After a brief 20 minute wait, we settled into our table, coffees in hand, and had ourselves a little feast. Joe had huevos rancheros and home fries, T had a breakfast burrito, and I had a waffle. Not long after breakfast (or should I say brunch) Joe packed up his small black duffel bag and guitar case and drove away.

It is always strange to have company leave. The days slow down and the routine resumes. The constant chatter, music, and jokes subside, and there is for the first time all weekend-- quiet.

Over the weekend, I spent some time exploring etsy and have found two things I would like to share with you. First is this adorable painting of a succulent by PBCB studios. Charming! Second is the lovely work done by Orange Peel Enamel. Such beautiful circle necklaces with great images. My favorites are "the ferris one of all", "antique car", and "cynthia's dinner party".

Wishing you a quiet evening before the work week begins again.
xo
S.

a favorite visitor

We've been having a fun weekend thus far. One of T's best friends, Joe, is in town, and we've been staying busy. T prepared black bean and basmati rice burritos for his arrival. Sounds like a strange combination I know but it's pretty good. Since then, they've been brewing beer, visiting cool Durham bars, having cookouts with other Durhamites, walking around downtown, singing and playing the guitar, and cracking lots of jokes. They have great energy together and it's been fun to be around them.

Oh, and we had our Sunday tradition a day earlier...yummy dutch baby this morning with organic raspberries with good strong coffee.

Tonight, we are heading to Chapel Hill to try out a microbrewery and hear Ira Glass speak to a sold out audience. We're hoping to score an extra ticket for Joe who decided to join us this weekend after said tickets were purchased.

I am loving the work of Rachel Salomon and think her print (Over There) is a steal at 20 dollars. So beautiful. Lots to look at on her site so go and visit!

Other than that, it's pretty dreary here. Overcast, gray, chilly. I've been dreaming of gardens and am wanting to talk more about that soon.

Hope you all are having a nice Saturday...munching on good eats, being inspired, working hard at things you love or perhaps just sitting and taking in the world around you.
xo
S.

5 Senses Friday

Last week's idea to do 5 Senses Friday was rather spontaneous and therefore I had a little trouble recalling five major things for each category. However, this week, knowing I would post on Friday, SO many things kept popping up saying pick me, pick me!! I'm sticking to five in each category and one little freebie. Would love to see your lists, too!

Taste:
chocolate/peanut butter swirl ice cream
vanilla frosted cupcakes with crunchy rainbow sprinkles for my friend Deenah
red pepper and black bean soup
low down oat brown ale-T's latest homebrew made in a small batch (45 beers)
brown cow yogurt-so much creamy goodness

Smell:
fragrant Thai noodles
chimney smoke--we had a few 30 degree days
spicy black beans simmering in anticipation of our friend Joe's arrival
the smell of beer brewing and spices being ground in the mortar and pestle
fresh mulch for our yard

Hear:
a bright red propeller plane
the lovely sounds of Galaxie 500
preschoolers singing "What a Wonderful World"
100+ birds in trees outside our house, chattering at a large hawk in a nearby tree...this went on literally for hours
three and four year olds practicing twinkle little star on their violins

*bonus* T and S singing T's original tune 240 DLfor your auditory pleasure :) What can I say? The boy loves his Volvo.

See:
baby squirrel in a tree at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens
one bright red cardinal in our backyard of browns and greens
the fantastic work of atelier lzc. wonderful mirrors!
this photo by Keight
a little girl sitting on top of her stroller's canopy, wearing bright floral print wellies and pigtails


Touch:
smooth playing cards
the cold enamel top of our farm table
hands on my sticky mat
numb lips after the dentist
the bumpy textured feel of my fave brown corduroys

Breathe

mav's recent posts on career have started me thinking. These posts are so well timed...I am in a bit of career limbo, you see. For the first time in my adult life, I do not have a full time job. This has been quite an adjustment for me as I do so much better with a routine. Although I substitute teach and do a few other part time jobs ( teach yoga to kindergarteners and consult for a Montessori school), my schedule is erratic which makes it difficult to find a rhythm.

My job for next fall (teaching at a brand new school I am helping to start) is up in the air as well. We may or may not open in the fall, depending on the number of students who enroll. And in the midst of all this limbo, I am questioning whether I want to remain in the field of education. This is actually very humorous seeing that I just spent two years in Colorado getting my Master's degree in Early Childhood Education!

Lately I find that I am second guessing all of my recent career decisions...asking myself why I spent so much time pursuing an advanced degree in a field that I have mixed feelings about. I have this "grass is always greener" mentality that I struggle with and am trying to overcome.

For now, just trying to take it day by day. Remembering to breathe it all in--the good, the confusing, the overwhelming--and being open to the many pathways that are available. Also, knowing that it is okay to be unsure of where I am headed and that while I don't have all the answers now, eventually a door WILL open.

So let's jump into dreamland, shall we?

I would love to:

-open a cafe with T--called T & S for tea and sweets...we would bake homemade treats and sell delicious tea and of course good coffee. We would also have a traditional tea service each afternoon at four with decorated plates, clotted cream, and jam.

--open or work at a small, beautiful greenhouse surrounded by all of the green and vibrant colors...watching and helping plants grow...having a community garden in back with plots of land open to the neighborhood for growing veggies and flowers.

-being a librarian in a stellar library...surrounded by quiet and so much information at my fingertips.

*oh, I almost forgot*, I dream of opening a tiny boutique selling only handmade items. I would stock up on all of your handmade goodness: pillows, cards, stuffies, shadowboxes, jewelry, art, etc. I would call the store By Hand and would get to chat with all of you lovely girls each week and be surrounded by beautiful displays.

thanks mav for encouraging us all to dream.

Until tomorrow and 5 Senses Friday, breathe deeply friends.
xo
S.

driving on easy street

Today, as I do each Tuesday, I drove from Durham to Hillsborough (about a 25 minute drive) to teach at a Reggio inspired preschool. I have never been one for commuting, but this particular route is easy. Traffic is heading elsewhere. The road is open and soon the landscape turns from urban to rural.

These Tuesday morning drives are so peaceful for me. I like passing by the same landmarks. They are like old friends. In fact, on these drives, I have certain things I look for.

There is the large green field that houses horses and llamas. I am always curious about which animals will be out and how close they will be to the fence. Today, the large brown llama was all the way up to the edge of the fence, eating grass on the other side. I smiled and drove on.

A little while later I will pass a small brick church with an open parking lot. The parking lot is a favorite spot for police cars. Sometimes, there will be two cars parked in opposite directions, but normally there is just one, waiting for cars that are driving too quickly down the winding country road. I have this place marked by memory and know to watch my speed here. However, the police car I anticipated was nowhere to be seen this morning.


A few feet ahead there is the dead tree that stands among many tall pines. On rare occasions, I have witnessed a small family of vultures roosting in this tree. One morning, I even saw the enormous hulking body of a vulture (they are so huge!) on the side of the road, picking at road kill. More commonly, I witness these birds turning circles in the sky forever scavenging.

Soon, I will turn left and pass an older gentleman on an early morning jog...wearing all blue sweats and working hard. We always pass one another at around the same time-five minutes until nine. I wonder where he lives and where he is headed. And I wonder if he notices the sound of my diesel Beetle or its harvest moon color. I want to wave but he never looks up. He just continues to plod along.

I am not quite sure why but this drive has such a calming effect on me. Is it the familiarity that I crave? Is it the uninterrupted time with just my thoughts and npr? I'm not sure I know the answer but even on hectic mornings, once I settle into the driver's seat, I become relaxed and just enjoy the passing miles.


*On a different note, more wonderful sketching links for you here and here.

Have a great Wednesday, friends!

singing away the dental blues

Today I had an afternoon dentist appointment, which is my least favorite way to spend time. One might even say my dislike of dentists borders on being a phobia. Before I left for my appointment, T pulled out his guitar and we sang a few songs together. It was his way of helping me feel less nervous. I love singing with him.

We sang an old Dinosaur Jr. song "Keep the Glove" and a Crabs song "Bricks of Gold". Little tidbit of info: T and I were both college dj's at the same university--hence, the singing of early '90's tunes.

So needless to say, I spent most of the day recuperating from dental work. T was quite the caregiver...making me soup and the most delicious smoothie I have ever had (banana, cherries, cherry brown cow yogurt, and an orange). I named it orange cherry madness...that's how yummy it was. We also played several rounds of cards (Canasta and War). Then, I spent some time searching for blogs that would inspire me to learn to sketch.

As I begin to explore this, I find myself drawn to blogs that feature simple, lovely sketches. Lately I'm loving High Up in the Trees. Gracia and Louise of Gracia & Louise have started a sketching project. They choose small objects from around their house to sketch and then display the results together with the actual object. I love this idea!

Do you have any favorite sketching blogs to recommend?

For more artsy goodness, check out the newest issue of ruby mag. Link via tiny showcase.

Now, it's time to retire for the night...cup of Prince Vladimir tea in hand, watching the Olympics and snuggling up with the kitties. Oh, and I want to thank all of you for reading and commenting. I love hearing from you.
Good night. xox S.

the talent equation-thoughts on talent part 2

This winterberry bush has talent, don't you think? Out of all of the plants and trees and bushes at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, none could match the amazing fiery berries of the Japanese winterberry. :)

Over the weekend, I was able to sit and think a little more about talent and what it means to me. To help me in my thinking, I went back and read comments on Lisa's blog. My favorite definition is Mati's. She says "I perceive talent as the ability to link the heart, head, eye and hand like an orchestra and go fourth". I love the imagery in this description. However, as beautiful as this sounds, doesn't it also sound difficult?

And while I agree that some people seem to have a natural affinity for certain fields, I also feel that perhaps talent does not come to others as easily as we may think. I think therin lies the key to the equation. There must be effort...practice...what I like to refer to as discipline. With discipline, a small seed of talent can grow and bloom into something wonderful. Without discipline, the very same small seed may not even germinate.

Being disciplined is very difficult as I think we all know. However, when you are passionate about what you are doing, you easily give yourself up to the practice of it. You naturally become disciplined because of your great love for what you are pursuing. It is almost as if you have no choice.

In turn, the great amount of time you spend practicing, doing, experimenting grants you knowledge, gives you so much experience under your belt. The best of the best in any field fine tunes their art form by doing, creating, challenging themselves. There is active effort and with that effort, more and more knowledge of the subject. In effect, you become an expert. You exude talent.

passion + discipline=talent.

For now, this little equation sums it up for me.

ode to Sunday morning

Last year while living in Denver, T and I found a recipe for a Sunday pancake-also known as a Dutch baby. This creation of eggs, milk, butter, sugar, flour, salt and vanilla is prepared in a skillet and baked in the oven. We only had to try it once before we deemed it worthy of becoming a regular in our weekly repetoire. A Sunday tradition was born.



We typically spend Sunday morning with coffee in hand and laptops open. T favors crossword puzzles and sudoku while I prefer reading favorite blogs and exploring flickr.



As the morning slowly creeps into the afternoon, the preparations begin. There are eggs to crack, milk to pour, butter to melt and salt to sprinkle. In a mere 20-25 minutes, we have a puffed up pancake with a delightful aroma of vanilla awaiting our hungry bellies.



The crowning glory of this recipe is the fruit puree. Any fruit will do although we have definitely liked some better than others. We've tried cherries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and peaches with great success. Blueberry topping was not flavorful enough and mango was a little stringy and needed to be put through a strainer. The cold puree of fruit and the warm eggy pancake are quite the combination.



While it lost steam for awhile, our Sunday tradition is back on track. This morning we had a delightful version with organic cherries. If you want to try our Sunday tradition at your house, you can find the recipe we use here.

5 Senses Friday

Hitting the highlights one sense at a time. What did you see, smell, hear, touch and taste that really stood out to you? Each Friday I will recap my week in list form divided into five sensory categories. You are most welcomed to join me either on your own blogs or in the comments section. My intention with this exercise is to bring awareness into my daily life and to celebrate these impressionistic bits and pieces that are often overlooked.


Sight:

Tony Takitani
Abigail's jeweler's bench
Threaded rod and sheet metal night stand created for me by T
mav's ocean sponge card set
this photo




Smell:

lime blossoms
freshly baked bagels
morning coffee
potato and corn chowder
tropical strawberry tea


Touch:

kitty fur
violin and bow
cold (from the garage) petanque balls
peeling the skin of a tangerine
silky ribbon from Mati's package



Taste:

navel oranges
grilled peanut butter and boysenberry jam
straight from the icebox chocolate mousse
russian black bread
rustic potato gnocci with garlic and basil tomato sauce




Hearing:

Plea for a Good Night's Rest
T practicing cello
Branford Marsalis interview on public radio
neighborhood boys skateboarding
Devotchka

love for all things tiny

Can I just say how much I like tiny showcase? Cause I really, really do. I love that they feature such varied, wonderful artists. I love that the artwork is tiny. I mean what is actually better than tiny art work...you always have room for more. Their prices are great and they give a portion of the proceeds to charity. I need to remember that tiny art work would make super presents.

I am even more excited since I was able to purchase the most recent print Bear and Wolf by Irina Troitskaya. There is so much that I love about these two pieces. I think they speak to the imagination and to seeing the world through the eyes of a child. The story behind the creation is so cute. I am just so surprised that they haven't sold out yet.

Irina has many other wonderful drawings on her site. My favorites are winter, tree, and home.


See more tiny art work here. Any time I go for burritos I can also pick up a tiny little masterpiece.

Such spring like weather today. T and I walked to get bagels and juice this morning with the warm sunshine on our shoulders.

The warm temps make me think about swimming so check out these swim cap style hats to keep your ears warm until spring truly arrives for good. So cute and Emily's a NC local!

lessons

I am currently in the process of learning an instrument. Not just any instrument mind you--the violin. Notoriously difficult to learn, particularly as an adult. I have attempted this once already about five years ago and it didn't stick. Well, my teacher moved but I think that is truly beside the point.

Yesterday I had my weekly Tuesday lesson and this one was filled with frustration. There are actually several factors that could be contributing to my aches and pains such as not practicing enough (though I try to pick it up at least 4 x a week) and the fact that I can't find my shoulder rest.

At this point, you might be asking yourself, why oh why are you even taking lessons? The beauty, dear friends...all for the beautiful music. But do I just not have the musical talent necessary to succeed? Have I picked up the bow too late?

Which brings me to the question of talent that has begun surfacing on some wonderful blogs such as Lisa's. This is something I have been thinking about a good deal.

Are individuals born with talent? Shinichi Suzuki does not agree with this theory at all. He feels that all individuals can learn anything (even the tricky violin :) ) as well as they learn their mother tongue. How? Through a carefully prepared environment, the right support, and practice.

When I think about talent, the work of Howard Gardner (and his theory of multiple intelligences) also comes to mind. From my understanding, Gardner believes individuals have a unique combination of intelligences, with some being stronger for the individual than others. That being said, perhaps my musical intelligence dips a little lower than most.

How much is nature and how much is nurture? Ah, the debate continues. I personally think it is probably a combination.

I think we tend to notice talent or appreciate talent when a person brings passion to his/her art form, when there is a sense of flow and when actions gracefully unfold. I also think perhaps talent is subjective...what speaks to one may not speak to another...so there's that emotion coming up again!

Knowledge plays into the equation as well. T and I love a particular song called "Prom Night" by The Crabs. However our friend M (a saxophonist, himself) thinks the saxophone player plays through his nose. We don't know enough about saxophones to make the talent call...we just know that the song as a whole speaks to us. I would even say this song is "good" but do I mean the musicians are talented or that I just love the song? Do we often confuse talent with what we personally like or are attracted to? What is the definition of talent and who decides?

There is so much to think about here. Feel free to jump in anytime. I have to get back to practicing. :)

happy

Morning coffee, gift given: Poppet Sketch by the talented Claudine Hellmuth, ecard from my sister, banana.

Drive from the city to the country, horses in pastures, llamas, white paper valentine bags, cards, heart shaped cranberry apricot scones, homemade butter, red plums, freeze tag, visiting the chickens.

Drive from the country to the city, cup of soup and a lemonade, violin lesson, home, gift received: homemade card with photobooth pics, dark chocolate wrapped in gold, three red roses, two white lilies, a tiny yellow tri-pod for my camera.

Nap.

Happy.























*update* Look what the postman delivered just in time! We ADORE our "Spooning Love Birds" painting created by the amazing mati. This beautiful, sweet pair of birds will be hanging in our bedroom. It even has a little handstitched heart. Truly, truly wonderful. Thank you Mati for being such an inspiration. Happy Valentine's everyone!

everything's coming up flowers

Yesterday, T and I went on a picture walk. It's something we try to do each week. I bring my camera and we take different routes through our neighborhood. One of the reasons I like it so much is that it makes you really aware of the passing of the seasons. Walking with no specific goal in mind except to notice.

On this particular walk we noticed the early pink of the cherry trees, many salmon and peach colored buds, and these faded camelia blooms. So pretty against the gray of the stone wall they landed upon. Soon, colorful flowers will be everywhere. We didn't really have a true winter this year. The closest we came to winter was this weekend's cold temperatures and yesterday's brief moment of flurries.

More flowers:

Maditi has some wonderful pictures of flowers on her site today as well as some links to some amazing flowers depicted in a variety of art forms.

I truly love these poppies and roses that are hand forged and hand painted from Dewdrop Designs in Charlotte, NC.

Valentine's Day:

Tomorrow, I will first be spending Valentine's Day with 12 preschoolers before spending a nice evening at home with T.
Today will be spent making homemade valentines for them and selecting a red fruit for snack (I was thinking of pomegranates but haven't seen them in stores recently so maybe red d'anjou pears instead).

Then, I have to go grocery shopping for supplies for my Valentine dinner at home. T and I are planning on making a salad with tangerine vinegarette, spinach gnocci, and chocolate mousse for dessert. Our gift to each other is the togetherness in the kitchen followed by a delicious meal. However, there will be a surprise or two in the mix.

ltp

These images are from two of Wendy Ewald's books: The Best Part of Me and I Wanna Take Me a Picture. Do you know Wendy Ewald? Well let me introduce you. She is an artist, photographer, teacher, and world traveler. She has been teaching kids photography for over 30 years.


When we moved to NC in August, I was excited to learn about the literacy through photography project happening right here in Durham. Wendy Ewald began this program as a means to teach reading and writing in a creative manner, utlizing photography.


Her most recent book highlights a project entitled American Alphabets. In this new book, Ewald collaborated with four unique groups of children to create four varied and unique alphabets. The children selected the words for each letter and worked with Ewald to stage a photo. My favorite part is the children's own handwriting on the photos. Currently, you can see the Arabic alphabet from this project on view in Queens.


Next month, there will be a ltp basic workshop offered at Duke University. I would love to be a participant. It's even more tempting knowing that we would be using polaroid cameras!!

rainy cold weekends

are good for:

eating bean soup and cheese toast

driving in the country to look at rushing rivers, horses in pastures, old buildings, and farmhouses

drinking lattes at the General Store Cafe

listening to npr

watching the Olympics

looking at beautiful paintings online while snuggled up in bed

see monica cook's dreamy paintings here, here, and here

library love

Ever since I was a little girl I have loved trips to the library. I began reading at four and one of my earliest memories is picking out stacks of books with my mom. While we had storybooks at home, I also had favorites that "lived" at the library.


Last year, I had the delight of living in Denver--home to the largest library between LA and Chicago. This library is stunning--so amazing. It was designed by Michael Graves and is just a wonderful place to be. As an early childhood teacher I loved going to choose books for my classroom from their children's section.





It was such a delicious place to spend time--neverending shelves and many beautiful spaces like this room.



The year before I lived in Boulder, CO and the library there was fantastic as well. Bright, clean, well-organized with wireless access and a cafe connecting the north and south wings where you could get a latte with soymilk if you so desired.

Needless to say when we moved to Durham in August, I was hesistant about going to the library. I was afraid that nothing could compare to the libraries I knew in Colorado. In the first six months of living here, I did not venture downtown to the library once.

Yesterday, a friend invited me over and suggested we take her children to the library. We bundled up and headed into the small (almost non-existant) downtown of Durham. My first impression is that it paled in comparison. It was dark, older, with chairs and tables that had seen many years of wear and tear, but as I walked through all of the sections I kept stacking up books that I wanted to check out. Below is my collection from yesterday's trip. Really good finds. So while the ambience isn't Colorado style, at least they have books that are my style. :)




Denver Public Library Photos courtesy of Denver Public Library Website.

inspired by nature

When I took my beginning wheel class, I was fortunate to meet and be taught by Ronan Peterson, a local NC potter. One of the reasons I love his work is that it is instantly recognizable as his own. It is unique and created in his own style. Ronan draws much of his inspiration from walks he takes in the woods. A teapot might take on the dark colors and stripes of a mushroom. A container may have the distinctive hexagonal shapes of a honeycomb. Ronan pays special attention to detail and his pieces celebrate the tiny details that are often overlooked in nature. I have two of his pieces ( a blue and brown striped bud vase and a brown, white, red dotty cup). These pieces are even more special to me because I know Ronan and understand that they reflect his unique personality.

Other links today: the ever amazing Abigail mentioned Grainne Morton on Mati's flickr site. Truly magical pieces.

Check out the photography of Mimi Haddon and the amazing art of Cassandra Barney (both found on the cover of Skirt magazine).


Oh, and look! I have a little golden tree forest!! { mav, these cards are divine!}

opening my eyes

After reading mav's and Kerri's posts on art, beauty, and the everyday, I set an intention to open my eyes to all that is around me today. I kept my camera close at hand and whenever something particularly struck me I took a photograph to remind myself to notice. Just notice the details. The above photo was taken while preparing lunch. I loved the bright colors set against the background of the white cutting board as well as the tiny droplets of water on the apple skin. Without setting the intention, I would have just rushed through this process. Slicing the apple would have been the goal and therefore I would have hurried to complete the task. However, by slowing down and really opening my eyes, I was able to notice the rich colors and the way the tiny drops of water created patterns on the skin.

Then there was gray. As I sat on my bed, reading my favorite blogs, I looked up as Rilke made a little noise. It was in that exact moment that I realized the grayness all around me...the subtle shades..how everything matched.

These little moments today made me smile and really brought me a simple kind of happiness that I think can only come from looking at the details a little more closely.

What little details did you notice in your life today?

Dabblings

Ever since I can remember I have always been a dabbler. In fact this fall, I not only took a beginning wheel class but I also started private anusara yoga sessions and violin lessons. On the side, I continued to practice simple knitting and with vigor renewed my interest in taking photographs. Secretly, I wished I could have made room in my life for beginning ballet classes and bread making. My interests are varied and many, true, but at what cost?

In the early fall, I was walking around a little, local art fair with a friend of mine who was in my pottery class. We were talking about art in general and how we wanted to find the ONE thing we could pursue. We laughed knowing that we enjoy trying classes and find it hard to stick with just one thing. Is it my Gemini personality, I thought? Is it that I find it so difficult to stay with something to the point where I'm no longer a beginner. Do I try things enthusiastically and move on when the going gets tough?

Lately, though, I think jumping in with a beginner's mind can be such a meaningful experience. You take nothing for granted. Your actions are new, challenging, and you are in full awareness. Yes, there can be anxiety or uncomfortable feelings but there is nothing like learning something new to help bring you back to being mindful and in the present.

So far this winter I have added sketching to my repertoire, specifically with the knowledge that it will be extremely challenging for me. I am working through the negative and finally enjoying playing around with a pen despite the finished results.

x marks the spot

Just returned from a weekend in the NC mountains. I love taking photos of letters found in nature. I think it would be really wonderful to have a catalogue of photos of each letter of the alphabet to be used in creating postcards. I may do just that--sending postcards to my "daily reads" web friends.

Other recent inspirations: seeing the Swan Lake ballet based on the book and illustrations by Lisbeth Zwerger and LulaKate coats are on sale.

More soon as I continue to figure out the ins and outs of blogger.
Have a good evening!
Shari