sweet indigo life

Away, so close...

The *I Three's* :), by Gillian da Silva

I am taking a break from posting for a week or two.  I will however be by to say hello to all of you at your places! Enjoy yourselves... the changing leaves, the orange sunsets, the cinnamony apple crisps, the chrysanthemums, the hay bales, the corn!, the fresh air, the sounds of fall....all of it.  Enjoy! enjoy! enjoy! and I'll see you soon.  Here is a song to keep your hearts happy.  The message is true.

xo

Short & sweet.

Brown egg in a vintage apron pocket. by Gillian da Silva

 

Today is peanut butter on whole grain bread.

Teaching my daughter to cook, a healthy soup that she can make for our dinner tonight.

It is laundry that smells of lemon & mandarin.

It is healthy ideas in my email inbox courtesy of this friend.

It is movie ideas, general venting and human connections during long laughter-induced phone calls with this friend.

It is waking up spooning my Jack Russell, she is the cuddliest dog ever...especially when dad is away travelling for business. 

Deadheading geraniums, trying to extend their life a little longer into the fall.

It is opening all my windows, as today is the most perfect day for fresh air.

It is moongazing as the crescent moon is perfect for painting, photographing & wishing.

It is chats with an old friend who has many talents including but not limited to, showing up at the spa with a cigar box for me. Thanks Steve! {Yes, his shop is amazing!}

It is thanking "Who-ever is responsible for everything" for looking after my mom and dad yesterday while they worried and fretted over his surgery.  He is home resting and well.

 

Okay, there is more but you have lives to live so go live them!

Like my good friend Jill says....well, go see for yourself.

lxoo

 

The big Luigi.

I stand reflecting from atop an old Victorian chair.

It was Bench Monday, in certain parts, that was yesterday.  A celebration of the first day of fall ensued, replete with zucchini & turkey in a skillet.  So delicious.

I'm striving for a more meditative existence.  To be more now.  To be.  I think about each bite I take of my meal.  Savour.  Smell.  Chew.  Swallow.  Sense it traveling throughout my body to each and every cell with it's goodness. 

In that same manner, I send out love. To my friend, whose son is ill in hospital, fighting off a wicked disease.  To my kids, who need it every second.  To my beloved, who is doing his best.  To my father, who goes in to the operating room again tomorrow for another round in the ring with his own opponent, cancer.  I pray.  To whom, I don't know.  To What? I don't know.  I have several names in mind.  Several ideas.  I believe, it is my attention and  my intention that brings the necessary light of ammunition to the dark fight. 

If you wage a battle today, big or small, do the same for yourself.  Send out love.  Send in love. Accept it.  Allow it to heal you. 

I reflect.  I take pictures of myself as I am on a path of self discovery.  I am trying to learn who I am.  What I am.  How I am.  My truth rocks.  It really does.  I know yours does too.  Go see for yourself. Then would you share? This Girl style? :)

Here is my truth in a wee bullet list:

• I am a great cook.  Seriously great.
• I love to walk and walk and walk (I'm like Forrest Gump, I just keep on walkin!)
• I cry with no cares of who sees or what they think (and I secretly feel sorry for anyone who is telling me that they are strong because they don't cry, that makes no sense)
• I wish I could take away the pain of all my friends and family
• I don't understand self pity
• I dislike whiners
• I love zucchini
• My daughter wants to be a bird (yes, that is still my truth)
• My other daughter wants to be a fashion designer!
• I am reading old classics now because in high school I never wanted to and now I realize how much I missed
• I think coffee is deliiiiightful
• I'm trying to lose the extra ten pounds that sticks around after the second child
• I'm a lover of red wine
• I cherish my friends and get hurt when they don't cherish me
• I love LOVE LOVE!!! photography
• I wish I were two inches taller, I am not kidding 5'8" would be fabby
• If I could make one thing smaller it would be my feet! (8) don't tell, shhhh!
• California rolls, avocado salads, tuna, and turkey are my top eats
• Dancing to 80's songs or driving with them blaring is cool.  My kids don't think so.
• I wish I had more time for things, my business for one.  No I won't give up blogging.
• I am seriously sad about Patrick Swayze.  I mean, that sucks the big Luigi. (Well, it is the post title after all, I had to throw the big Luigi in there somewhere! Okay, so I'm not at my most poetic tonight.  You get my drift. And thank you for putting up with my random silli-isms from time to time-a gal needs to just lauuuuugh!!!)
• I'm so much cheekier in real life than I am in print.  Or blog.  If you knew me, you'd know. ;)

Well there is so much more but you get the point.  Until later on this week...explore, enjoy and go apple picking!!! Bake a pie!!!

xoxo

The latitudes of my equinox.

Happy Autumnal Equinox!! The nights and days are equal for a wee spell.  Then the nights reign heavily for six months.  Oh, the upheaval of Mercury gone retro is lightening up now...we'll soon get our messages straight again.  (The last few weeks has been insane for communications.)

I am hoping to accomplish the following this week:

• take a fun shot for Bench Monday! not like this, but I'll show you this anyways-as it sums up where I'd like to lay my head for the next-up in the bullet list...
• get some much desired SLEEP
• walk briskly to clear my head
• read the rest of Oliver Twist
• smile much
• increase my energy somehow
• watch a chick flick or two, I need a good cry!! (things have been even-Steven for awhile, and that is very boring, I need to FEEL)
• read all of your blogs, yes ALL of  your BLOGS!
• figure out some work related issues, yuck!
• bounce around on the beds like a ten  year old with my kids

Maybe I'll go to the lake, and get an ice cream cone before the weather gets too cold...oh and I'll shop for sweaters and boots.  Yes.  I love fall. OH!!! A recipe.  This is so inspired by the lovely chef Christina over at Soul Aperture.  I just couldn't resist it, and am telling you it is a major must in place of mashed potatoes.  So yummy!  So, fall!!!

xox

Striking contrasts.

Black and white.

Up and down.

There, and here.

Near.  Far. 

Love, dislike. 

Profligate.  Frugal.

Handsome.  He's got a great personality.

Get my drift?

Life thrives in contrast.  Sweet, delicious contrast.

xo

Random happy occurences :)

• a squirrel embarked on a deadly race with an SUV yesterday in front of me while I was driving...his back legs (travelling much faster than the rest of his pudgy fluffy body) propelled him to safety while I ushered him along with a quick whispering "go!" {he made it}
• walking back from school my daughter "picked" two orange leaves to give to her father and I...gifts. 
• on the same journey back from school she stops, approaches a spruce tree and begins to touch the needles. think about that.  i never noticed that tree before.
• there is a chicken in the crock pot for dinner and eggs in the saucepan scrambling for breakfast.  in this case the chicken came first. ;)
• donuts are for photographing (bones of a poet, week two!), not eating in this case.  I asked one of my spa girls to go to the donut shop and told her to come back with something pretty.  "What kind do you want?" she needed to know.  "I don't mind," was my reply.  "I'm going to shoot it, not eat it!" 
• the kids ended up splitting it with a glass of milk later.  :)
• friends are taking us to a show tonight, oh happy day! they are so kind :) 
• i'm getting my hair done this morning.  life is sweet!

*melt into the sun*

On Death
 Kahlil Gibran

You would know the secret of death.
But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?
The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.
If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.
For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.


In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;
And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.
Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.
Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.
Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?
Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?


For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?


Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

xo

Keeping secrets & other current events.

I am making a white bean chili, with chicken.  It smells of coriander and garlic in here. Shhh, don't say anything, it's for my sister-in-law who broke her leg.  Oh yes, the soccer star that she is went in full-kick and snapped one of her twigs.  So since she is laid up, I thought I'd nip over there tonight with this small yet clean-eating meal. 

The photo above depicts a my little ones dinner...mac and cheese.  Tonight I ate an avocado mixed with a tin of thai chili tuna.  She doesn't like that! So hence her choice.  Hey, I support her choices.  She eats a lot of fruit. :)

This week I was surprised by two of my favourite blogging friends, Vanessa & Tara.  Both sweet ladies sent me gorgeous packages to open full of surprises.  Thank you ladies!!!

Tara is in London this week, the lucky gal.  An email today informed me that there are still a couple of spots available for people to join us in Jordan.  Why not sign up for this trip of a lifetime?  Go check out the website here to read all about it.  I mean really, a week in Jordan with some blog friends...what could be sweeter?

I love the saying...Friday's dream on Saturday told, always comes true no matter how old.  Have you heard that before?  Whenever I had a weird dream on a Friday, my mother would put her finger to her lips and whisper, "Shhh, don't tell me.  Then it can't come true." Well last night I had a doozy! But I won't share it.  Just know that it was weird.  I dream a lot lately.  Lots on my mind I suppose. 

I'll leave you now.  I have some pictures to hang, and I'm going to finish off the chili.

Have a wonderful weekend..I'm happy that tomorrow is Sunday, because Sunday always brings the greatest treasures. ox

Joyeux Anniversaire à vous mon cher ami!

Happy birthday to my dear friend.  Tara of Paris Parfait I hope you had the most wonderful day! I bought you these flowers at the market today.  I hope you like them.

They are for YOU. :)

Many happy returns.  Many more happy adventures. (Hopefully with me!)

Wishing you everything your heart desires. xo

"My friends are my estate."
- Emily Dickinson

"The bird a nest,
the spider a web,
man friendship."
- William Blake

"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light."
- Helen Keller

Welcome new beginnings....

Our neighbours are out canning tomatoes.  They are having a *tomato party*! It is a sight to behold. They are such lovely people too.  Everyone on our new street is, boy did we hit the neighbour jackpot buying this house.  I love the canning and preserving traditions, they keep summer alive throughout the cold months.

Outside, Julian is finishing building our fence.  Olivia is picniking with a friend.  I'm about to take my little one for a long bike ride into the country.  Yes, the country is literally right up the road.  We live on the cusp of our city.  Hopefully they won't build north of us for awhile.  I like seeing the frogs migrate and the crickets bounce in the little storm ponds.

~bones of a poet~ the e-course is teaching us *new* ways of seeing!  So I shall bring my camera on the bike ride, in the hopes of capturing the undiscovered beauty.  Another new beginning for me.

A roast cooks in the crock pot, seasoned and getting tenderer and tenderer, I'll do up some small potatoes with garlic and steam some veggies too.  Not quite a full roast dinner, as fall has yet to appear just yet.  It is sunny with cooler evenings, my favourite time of the year.  Okay that is all I have for now.  There is much to be done and with school starting tomorrow, I want to enjoy this last glorious day of summer vacation,.  I hope you are enjoying yours too. xo