perfect day
“My two favourite things in life are libraries and bicycles. They both move people forward without wasting anything. The perfect day: riding a bike to the library.”
~ Peter Golkin
early spring impressions
..and some random ramblings
Spring reminds me of an impressionist painting, as little dots of color start appearing here and there. Seems the color around me is mostly yellow at the moment, as the rabbits have eaten all my purple crocus. I wonder if the purple ones have a sweeter flavor..maybe the yellow is too tart?
Been listening to an old favorite. Debussy seems to go perfectly with Spring and Impressionism.
My little chipmunk friend, Cheeky, has returned. She waits by the deck door most mornings for her handful of peanuts. Sometimes she follows me out to the bird feeder in hopes of catching a few sunflower seeds that spill on the ground.
Amazing how many seeds she can squeeze into those cheeks of hers.
Enjoying these longer days and loving the golden hour light through my dirty windows.
Still avoiding much of the political news on television and social media. Scary and depressing.
Thankful for those little empty spaces in time..
It’s Ours
there is always that space there
just before they get to us
that space
that fine relaxer
the breather
while say
flopping on a bed
thinking of nothing
or say
pouring a glass of water from the
spigot
while entranced by
nothing
that
gentle pure
space
it’s worth
centuries of
existence
say
just to scratch your neck
while looking out the window at
a bare branch
that space
there
before they get to us
ensures
that
when they do
they won’t
get it all
ever.
– Charles Bukowski
I have loved the last two books I’ve read recently-
“My Name is Lucy Barton” by Elizabeth Strout
“All the Broken Things” by Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer
Just started “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek” by Annie Dillard
Perfect timing as it’s an exploration on foot in a region of Virginia and we will be heading there and beyond in a couple weeks.
Excited to meet a photographer friend and his family from Scotland this weekend. They will be visiting Boston for a few days. Been following his work on Flickr for a few years now. I find it pretty amazing to think of all the wonderful people – photographers, writers, artists – I’ve met through photography. An incredible, supportive and generous community.
So I’ve rambled enough for now…time to catch up with all of you.
Wishing you a wonderful rest of the week.
slowing to a silence
Oh, the coming-out-of-nowhere moment when, nothing happens
no what-have-I-to-do-today-list
maybe half a moment the rush of traffic stops.
The whir of I should be, I should be, I should be
slows to silence,
the white cotton curtains hanging still.
~ Marie Howe
Don’t you just love days like that? I had one yesterday and it was perfectly lovely. So nice to have no plans, to just improv each moment. I found Marie Howe’s poem on Shawna Lemay’s blog and I tucked it away in my notes, hoping to have the opportunity to use it here. It’s no secret that I am a big fan of her site. In this often narcissistic world of social media, her blog is a breath of fresh air. Her posts are educational and thought provoking, not to mention, visually stimulating.
Which leads me to this book I’m currently reading. “Rumi and the Red Handbag” is Shawna’s sparkling new novel and I spent the morning wrapped up in it. Its a short novel, only 140 pages, but what a “capacious hold all” of a book (if you read it, you will get the reference). I’m taking my time, savoring the words, highlighting passages, jotting down notes on little sticky pads, just as I imagine her character, Shaya might do. This is truly a book to savor and I believe its going to become a new classic, one that will surely put Shawna on the map..actually it already has.
Currently on so many prestigious recommended reading lists, including HERE and HERE.
A beautiful journey,
A soulful read,
it just is.
and I just thought I’d share it with you.
staycation
Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.
~ Mason Cooley
