a single day

DSC_1870

DSC_1852

33841310016_18b89a75e6_o

DSC_1389

DSC_2335

DSC_2107

34253402526_77e5be5a76_o-2

DSC_1033

DSC_0403

DSC_3040

DSC_2831

34273104222_9296489fa4_o-2

A day is like a whole life. You start out doing one thing, but end up doing something else, plan to run an errand, but never get there … And at the end of your life, your whole existence has the same haphazard quality, too. Your whole life has the same shape as a single day.
~Michael Crichton

May Sarton wrote, “Routine is not a prison, but the way to freedom from time.”
I’m working to get myself on a better routine these days and I feel so much more
productive. Less time online, more time for all the other things I’ve been wanting to do, such as spending more hours outdoors. Now if the weather would only cooperate..

Mozart

good stuff

spring finally arrived

33885193051_e1ddd31541_o

DSC_1280

DSC_1069

DSC_1013

 

and this happened

DSC_1791

DSC_1771

DSC_1762

DSC_1778

DSC_1632

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

DSC_0982

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.

acceptance

DSC_6672

DSC_8352

DSC_5714

33362464645_4d33f8c537_o

33046004630_bfff72a123_o

To accept whatever comes, regardless of the consequences, is to be unafraid or to be full of that love which comes from a sense of at-oneness with whatever . . . In other words there is no split between spirit and matter. And to realize this, we have only suddenly to awake to the fact. I have noticed it happens and when it does it partakes of the miraculous.

~ John Cage “Juilliard Lecture” in A Year from Monday (1952)

There were signs
but it seems
spring is just not ready for us yet.