Category: connections

humble pie

by Susan, posted in around the kitchen table, connections, cooking/baking, Uncategorized

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“I want you to stop running from thing to thing to thing, and to sit down at the table, to offer the people you love something humble and nourishing, like soup and bread, like a story, like a hand holding another hand while you pray. We live in a world that values us for how fast we go, for how much we accomplish, for how much life we can pack into one day. But I’m coming to believe it’s in the in-between spaces that our lives change, and that the real beauty lies there.”
– Shauna Niequist

good stuff

by Susan, posted in connections, creative process, garden, inspiration, my work, photography, random thoughts, Spring, Uncategorized

spring finally arrived

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and this happened

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My work is featured in the summer issue of Artful Blogging Magazine.  Whole lot of gratitude to Shawna Lemay for the writing prompt.  Her blog is always so thought provoking.   This beautiful publication, reads more like a book than a magazine and it’s chock full of wonderful inspiration.  Happy to be in the company of such talented people. Kind of a dream come true.

 

speaking of inspiration and dreams

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The lovely and amazing Kelly Ishmael turned me on to this gorgeous book – Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden by Erin Benzakein with Julie Chai.  Photos by Michele M. Waite.  All about growing, harvesting and arranging seasonal flowers.  Wonderful information and the photos are to die for.

 

How sweet is this??

Mozart

 

Even Mozart was impressed!

Chloe Lemay is an art student at Sheridan College, soon to be majoring in cartoon/animation.  She did this adorable image of Mozart and I just love it!  He will be appearing at the end of each blog post from now on.  You may view more of Chloe’s wonderful, whimsical work HERE.   Word is that she will be doing commissions this summer if anyone is interested.

 

I’ll leave you with these beautiful words found on Calm Things a while back.

Wishing you all good stuff!

 

“The Monk Manifesto: Seven Principles for Living with Deep Intention“ by Christine Valters Paintner.

The Monk Manifesto 

  1. I commit to finding moments each day for silence and solitude, to make space for another voice to be heard, and to resist a culture of noise and constant stimulation.
  2. I commit to radical acts of hospitality by welcoming the stranger both without and within. I recognize that when I make space inside my heart for the unclaimed parts of myself, I cultivate compassion and the ability to accept those places in others.
  3. I commit to cultivating community by finding kindred spirits along the path, soul friends with whom I can share my deepest longings, and mentors who can offer guidance and wisdom for the journey.
  4. I commit to cultivating awareness of my kinship with creation and a healthy asceticism by discerning my use of energy and things, letting go of what does not help nature to flourish.
  5. I commit to bringing myself fully present to the work I do, whether paid or unpaid, holding a heart of gratitude for the ability to express my gifts in the world in meaningful ways.
  6. I commit to rhythms of rest and renewal through the regular practice of Sabbath and resist a culture of busyness that measures my worth by what I do.
  7. I commit to a lifetime of ongoing conversion and transformation, recognizing that I am always on a journey with both gifts and limitations.