sweet indigo life

travel to Jordan, oceans of memories & Christmas traditions

 
This little glass teapot is a "genie lamp" of memories for my family.  It contains a vast and wide ocean of history...it is no longer allowed on the tree, it must be protected.  It travelled to Canada in the 60's with my in-laws when they emigrated here from the south of England.  We miss them all the time but particularly when Christmas time arrives, as they instilled so many traditions in us.  We practice those traditions but somehow {and I know why} they just aren't the same.

One of my favourite Christmas movie scenes of all time, is Clark Griswold in the attic.  He stumbles upon his own veritable genie lamp of memories, and the hilarity ensues.

On gratitude:

 “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”  St. Augustine

"All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”  Martin Buber

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” Jawaharlal Nehru

Today's gratitude is travel centered.  I chose three quotes I love to sum up my feelings for the "experience" of seeing the world.

To journey out and see things, to glean experiences- that is to me what riches and wealth may be to another.  I seek the divine experience.  I have only just begun my life of travelling.  Where I am in life now allows for travel the odd time; the kids are older, the business can run without me temporarily, whenever I shop for groceries or gas I am accumulating precious flight miles, I bargain hunt on my computer for deals on rentals, and other things. I make it happen by hook or by crook.  Thank goodness my husband-to-be feels the same way I do.  I don't think I'd be happy to go trotting off without him.  We are well matched in this arena {and others, but that I'll save for our wedding posts}. 

We booked our tickets to Jordan last night!  {Thanks to those amazing miles we accumulated.} I have to tell you, I feel like a kid waiting for Santa.  I shall now go and polish up my camera and wait.  Patiently. {Well no, not quite patiently.}

xo

Travelling feet & a happy heart *

It is a road trip of sorts.  My sister-in-law and me, in a Mustang. There are miles of rugged coastline to shoot.  Toes that beg for a dip in the water.  Characters lurk around every corner on Venice Beach (begging too, to be snapped).  We'll eat the cuisine.  Shop for treasures.  Soak up each ray of delectable sun in the convertible we rented. We may even see a movie star.  Or two.  Because that is the kind of luck we have.  It is the magnetic kind...attracting in all kinds of lovely things. 

Wish you were going too...!  Gone 'til Monday, kids.  California is calling my name. xoxo

P.S. OH how could I forget?  My DAD is blogging...his paintings and musings can be found at Experiments In ART.  Could you welcome him in to the fold?  Thanks everyone!

Sugar animation; inspiration in *white*

Today is whimsical and wonderful white!  I'm inspired by many things, many people.  True hearts prevail out there it would seem.  So a small *white* tribute to those dear souls.  This first photo is inspired by this incredible sand animation artist. 

I am fascinated by animation of all kinds.  But, as an amateur photographer it makes me feel like an ant on the mountain of technology that is available now.  Click here to see why.

The reason behind all the white here today is a *colour week* project. My world is a flurry of white dotted here, and there...

 
 
  


Please join in the festival of colour this week over at n o d d y b o o m. See you tomorrow, with my favourite, yellow. Enjoy all this day has to offer you! xo

Reverence is a season, a majesty exalted in orange :)

 

 I'd rather have a goddam horse.  A horse is at least human, for God's sake. 

~J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

I was down on one knee, in the mud, fussing with my camera and when I looked up he was right there. I started to laugh and his friend came over.  I schmoozed with them for awhile and they posed, gladly.  Horses know they are powerful sleek magical creatures after all.  They don't mind grandstanding every now and then. 

Bursting with orange, the trees begged a hug.  I couldn't...lest someone see me.  I'm shy that way you see but I do talk to them.  So instead I stood there silently wishing. Wishing on stars, trees and stones.  Drinking in the display of high definition mother nature.  Leaves swept up on unseen breezes swirled and danced and fell inches from my nose.  It all seemed choreographed.  Chocolate brown mares snorted and kept inching closer to me, until nose to nose we became fast friends.  Crunching on leaves fallen as I made my way back to the car, the invigorating air the horses and I shared circulating briskly about, I glance back and whisper my goodbyes to my new equine comrades. I blew them a *kiss*

Dark eyes blinking madly, they sent me their "goodbye and please come with apples next time" glance, before nuzzling each other and going back to their business. 

 

The alchemy of chocolate and orange, results in a majestic autumnal day. Oh, the horses send you their love. xo

I love you in order to begin loving you. :)

 
I'm learning my camera this week. The shot above was taken this morning in my bedroom.  I shoot mainly in manual and aperture-priority but now I am learning shutter-priority and it is fun!  I'm zipping around the house taking test-shots of things with different shutter speeds and various white balances. I really want to know what I'm doing when I get to Jordan, and seeing as the technical functions of my camera aren't my forte-I am studying hard.  I'm more of a point and shoot kind of gal, in aperture-priority mode.  I will be on this trip with people that swamp me in technical knowledge and gear, so I'll be "the little engine that could" hanging on for dear life! Wish me luck I only have a few months to really know what I'm doing.

I have some link love today;

Gallery Thirty One, a twenty-photo essay about the Day of the Dead festival in Mexico.   

This ornament would make a startlingly beautiful addition to any festive tree!

We are heading out to get a turkey today, and all the trimmings (so they are as fresh as can be) for tomorrows little gathering at our house for Thanksgiving. I'm no Martha, but I want to make it a pretty presentation.

How many times have you judged, without trying to see both sides of the story? Or bought into a single story of a person or place? There is danger in a single story. 

One of my best friends lives here.  What a hip city!  I have her, her husband & daughter on my "must visit" list. Her and I try to talk on the phone a few times a week, it is our time to vent & laugh.  You can read a little more about her here.

Happily reading the following:

Digital Rebel XTi/400D Digital Field Guide

Paulo Coelho's BRIDA

Paulo Coelho's THE DEVIL AND MISS PRYM

100 Love Sonnets by Pablo Neruda

Here is a snippet of one (that fits beautifully with Day of the Dead celebrations): 

XCII

My love, if I die and you don't die,

my love, if you die and I do not,

let us not give pain more territory:

there is no expanse like the one we lived.

 

Dust in the wheat, sand in the sands

of time, the wandering water, the lazy wind

carried us like sailing grain.

We might not have found each other within time.

 

This prairie in which we find ourselves,

oh small infinity! we give back.

But love, this love has not ended,

 

and just as it had no birth

it has no death, it is like a long river,

it only changes lands and lips.

(Yes, there are 100 like that in this book.  Such delicious words!)

Last but certainly not least...I'm topping off my list with Frommer's Los Angeles 2009.

***

Have a love infused week.  Stay true to who you are; bow down to no one...forgive yourself mistakes you've made and pledge to learn from them.  Embrace new opportunity.  Carve out a new niche for yourself.  Study something new...the brain thrives when you feed it new information, so give it a good old fashioned work-out.  Sleep well, eat well, and take brisk walks.  Remember how important your contribution is, don't diminish yourself with pity, or self doubt. 

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

The fruition of summer's requiem~

Olivia washing up one of our fresh tomatoes.

Summer's closing is drawing near.  But the still and the humming heat of only the last two weeks has produced many spoils. 

Tomatoes, for one.  I requested help with a stewing recipe on a social networking site this morning...and found some very useful replies, thank you! :)

In the coming week I shall peel, dice, boil and can these luscious red toms up for eating in the winter.  While eating my delicious vegan** dinner tonight, I dreamed of one I'd be eating in January....!

Organic whole wheat elbow macaroni and my stewed tomatoes! I'll put it with a simple salad starring my favourite raspberry dressing.  {Simple meals taste the best.} 

Tonight I'm catching up on the things that aren't so yummy, my expenses and my books.  Blah! ;)

I hope your night is way more fun than mine!! xoxo

p.s.** I ate a tofu enchilada, with a side of Spanish rice & beans.  My tummy is happy! I can't wait for THIS, next week...by the way, I'm not vegetarian.  Only part time, like 65% of the time! Maybe more...hmm...!

Sit. Though you believe there are more pressing things to do.

Sit.

Put those tired legs up.  Close your eyes, and breathe in deeply.

Now if your feet are up, concentrate on relaxing each muscle from your great toes to your hips.  Breathe again.

Shrug those shoulders a few times, loosen the dust from your joints and set your tensions free.  Allow them escape out a nearby window, and bid them farewell. 

Okay I've done that now too.  We are on even playing fields of relaxation you and I.  So here is what's on my mind;

I remember this morning's Facebook interaction, with a high school friend...a discussion (much deep thought was put into this) about the evening's dinner.  He and his lovely wife (also a high school friend) were entertaining friends this evening (also high school friends of mine) and he was fretting somewhat in his laid-back way about doing "greek fingerling potatoes" or "citrus shrimp".  I think he settled on both. Steaks too. :)

I settle into my deep stretch.  I remember a sweet lady who is now a client at the spa but prior to that she was my neighbour and now she is I believe a full-fledged friend.  She was in this morning, discussing the ups and the downs of life with me.  A one hour pedicure took an hour and 45.  That is normal for me.  I get lost in the discussion, the therapy of it all.  We walk away from the interaction healed.  Our friendship deepened.

Should we make tea?  Meet you back here in four minutes. 

Okay mine is Earl Grey, splosh of milk and one cube of sugar.  My favourite.  Which reminds me of last winter's trip into NYC, and my beautiful and funny friend Tara from Paris gifts me a box of the most delicious Earl Grey tea in the known world. She is probably the one person I email consistently.  I value her.  So much so.  I look so forward to travelling to Jordan this spring and seeing her again.  She is true blue. 

Speaking of NYC, the above chair was photographed this past summer in this lovely lady's apartment.  Please send her and her *new* New York Times writer husband a mental message of love and happiness, for today was their wedding day and they are now man and wife. This little chair in the West Village likely sits empty tonight, wondering how the festivities went.

Do you like this song? It makes me cry. Well lumpy anyways.  Ever get lumpy? I do-I'm a blubbering fool.  Movies, songs, you name it.  Commercials!  Please, I'm a sap. But when some good old fashioned rocking out is required, I call on these lovelies. Help I'm Alive does the trick.  As does Gimme Sympathy. :)

I'm going to sit for awhile here, I'm reading a new book...and my eyelids are getting heavy.  The reading will sweep me away to a state of sleep-readiness.  Yes there were other things that needed doing, but I'm glad we chose to sit a spell tonight.  See you soon. xoxo

What are your skies like today?

~Bottle of coke~photograph by gillian da silva

Things go better, when Coke and I, get together.  :)

I'm drinking an icy chilled Coke right now...albeit in the form of a slushie from the corner store.  It's hot, I'm bothered... so I thought, why not?

Some random randoms;

I'm loving the sound of birds chirping in the morning outside my window, something I didn't hear in the city due to high traffic.  They singsong me awake, and then in the evening, the happy buzz of insects chirping goes well with my evening tea.  Nature, it seems, has sought me out and found me.  :)

I am grocery listing for the upcoming week, we are vacationing by the lake and I mustn't forget marshmallows, or the children will completely freak out.  Cheese strings, check.  Cheesy popcorn, check.  Big fat hot dogs with mustard, check. :)

Remember the movie "Vanilla Skies"?  Well I was one of a few people who actually liked that film (I found it interesting, as far as psychological thrillers go), but the name was taken from a painting by Claude Monet. My skies look like that right now.  I'm wondering what your skies look like today?

I just love jelly beans.  Especially the Jelly Belly kind, and I like to eat them with my eyes closed and try to guess the flavour.  Any idea what my fave one is?  I adore this one.

Have a super beautiful day followed by a cosy happy sleep with vivid gorgeous vast and sweeping epic dreams. xo

Added random bonus;

14 years ago I was in the delivery room for a most beautiful moment, the birth of my nephew.  Well he now TOWERS over me, and is such a cute thing you could pinch his cheeks all week long.  HERE is the cake my brother and sister in law got him for his birthday...super cool, don't you think? Yes, that is his actual cake featured on the blog, "Cake it from me". Is she a genius, or what??