the eclectic eye

life by numbers

2012-01-29T07:17:00.000-05:00

One of the most lasting gifts I received over the holidays was a bulb. Not the kind for screwing into a lamp but one for planting so it flowers. I found this small bundle of mystery to be significant in many ways. One -- I haven’t planted a bulb since I had a daffodil bed in my grandma’s garden way back when, so I am curious as to what will bloom from this one hence the mystery along with a lesson in patience (ah, yes…one of my life struggles!). Two -- it reminded me of growth, a most important aspect of life and one that in some ways for me has been stagnate for a little too long…a nudge that it is indeed time to move onward and upward. Three -- I so love and enjoy the cut flowers that grace my home almost every week. They make me smile, bring life and warmth to the space and this round-ish knob reminds me to keep with my tradition even if it’s just one stem of something. Four -- the thousands of photographs I have and will take of blossoms come to life on my walks and in my travels breaths joyful life into my soul. This tiny globe of inspiration tells me to continue capturing the flowers on my path; it also serves as a gentle push to get on with what is necessary to share my photos with others. Five -- this bulb, any bulb in its simplicity represents new life and because once planted will bloom year after year, also symbolizes rebirth, i.e., the chance to start not again but anew…it’s never too late as long as we’re “on this side of the dirt” (a phrase borrowed from a new friend). So to all my friends known, un and to come…

keep your peepers open!®

...and thank you vp for the gift

barista beauty

2012-01-25T17:22:00.001-05:00

Though it’s not terribly cold outside, my body is still in the season of winter. Several times each week, it tugs at me for soup, salty caramel hot chocolate or a decaf cappuccino; rarely do I give in to the craving for the latter two. However, I am feeling that I need to go back to the restaurant that whipped up this delicious frothy cup of coffee for several of the folks I was meeting with the other day. I was too content with my pots of tea to switch over but I think I’ll drop by on my way home from insanity to sit still and gaze at a beautiful creamy design created by whomever the barista behind the counter might be.

Just looking at a picture of it chills me out. I’ll let you know if it’s as delicious as it looks, but until then…

keep your peepers open!®

kismet

2012-01-22T05:44:00.000-05:00

When I began to once again keep a written and visual journal this past October my intention was to make entries every evening before I went to sleep. I actually took my 12” x 17” book to Italy so I wouldn’t miss that time for me. Though I haven’t kept to writing in it nightly, I do return to it often enough and have continued to use the pages as small canvases for lots of different artistic creations. You see, I also intended using the journal as a personal gallery for my eyes only but it seems that a new series is birthing itself and I am a pleased momma who must show them off! These collages begin with torn paper crowns that are not simple in construction but are completed in one sitting. My challenge truly commences as I work out the face and a storyline unfolds about who is coming to life. Actually this is one of the things that keeps me returning to my journal; it may take weeks before the entire piece fully reveals itself and something inside of me is not at rest until it does. But…I am patient (note to self...is this not one of my life struggles? who knew there was more to this than just a delightful outcome!).

On the 9th of this month, I finished a head piece and foolishly attempted to find a face immediately (did I just say I was patient?). Talk about frustrating, I know there is a process so I’m not sure why I decided to change it. Anyway, I received a new batch of magazines last week. As I flipped through, there before me were things that presented themselves as possibilities for eyes and a mouth so snatch them out I did and left them on my coffee table.

It was cold and snowy when I woke up yesterday morning, a perfect reason to stay in bed, finish reading the magazines and oh yes it is kismet, there within the story of who was to come came as I started constructing a hand from a picture of snow covered pine needles…

…the message that accompanied this zany character when I sent out a Saturday greeting was, “stay snug as a bug on this chilly, snowy day!” Perhaps another message is…

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ah, ha...think I found a name for the series…

one pot only

2012-01-18T19:23:00.001-05:00

I do love a good bowl of soup when it’s cold out, recently ran across a recipe in Whole Living magazine that I enjoyed so much, I made it two weeks in a row! Of course, I changed it up just a bit, but for once I didn’t stray too far from the original ingredients and I followed the directions for cooking to the letter.

Chicken, Collard Green & Sweet Potato Soup
Serves 6 to 8

2 Tbsp light olive oil (recipe used vegetable oil)
2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (they used breasts)
1 small chopped Vidalia onion (my preference since recipe wasn’t specific)
1 stalk celery, chopped
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 lb. sweet potato, peeled and cubed
2 cups coarsely chopped collard greens (I used frozen, recipe fresh)
4 cups low sodium chicken stock
2 cups water
1 ½ cups cooked brown rice
Salt, pepper, garlic powder (recipe didn’t call for garlic powder)

In a heavy bottomed pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder and sear until cooked through, takes about 6 minutes per side. The chicken will stick to bottom of pot but that’s okay. Remove and set aside.

Add onion and celery, cook about 4 minutes until tender. Add vinegar and deglaze the pot, scraping up any brown bits with a wooden spoon. Add sweet potatoes, collard greens, stock and water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender.

Shred chicken, add it and rice to pot until both are heated through. Season with salt and pepper and serve!

This soup is not only yummy, tasty but very satisfying and filling hence my desire to make and share it with others weekly. Perhaps I’ll get around to using fresh collards when I feel like spending a little more time prepping but I like the extra flavor that the thighs provide, the sweetness of the Vidalia, and I don’t have or use vegetable oil so those changes will stand. Both times I made it, I stood at the stove and devoured!

This variation on chicken soup tastes great from the first day to the last, takes a short time to make, and once finished doesn’t need anything more than a bowl and spoon. So stir some up, stay warm and…

keep your peepers open!®

benched

2012-01-15T10:12:00.002-05:00

My week back at work after two weeks vacation spun me faster than a whirling dervish! On both a professional and personal level, there were moments when I had to stop the revolve not to catch my breath but to clearly focus; act up, out, on; put things in perspective; then get back in the rotation be it a whirl or a lingering turn. Something about the latter brings to mind a great place to sit it down for a spell and reminds me of benches throughout my travels and during my walks that have called out to me to do just that...

I heard someone say that life is about ups and downs, when it’s a flat line, you’re dead. However, the decision to self-bench, quiet the motion when my world is spinning faster than I can blink or taking me on a heart racing rollercoaster ride is the line I draw so I can get back and stay in the game.

Take a seat so you can…

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quickie

2012-01-11T17:43:00.000-05:00

After two weeks of holiday, I returned to my 9 to 5 this week; I am too exhausted to do anything but peek at you for a hot second…

…done!

Closing my eyes until Sunday but, feel free to…

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bell of the night

2012-01-08T07:27:00.001-05:00

One night when I was in Italy last November, I woke up not knowing what time it was. There was no clock in the room (perpetual reminder that I was on vacation which I actually liked), looking at the phone caused that bright light to come on, so I turned over hoping to go back to sleep. I then heard the sound of a bell in the near distance, the reverberation between each soft gong fully heard before the next rang out equally as soft; it was 3:00AM. As I adjusted to the time difference, I found myself awake on other occasions. I listened for the bell, which began to be the thing that lulled me back to sleep, a small comfort that all was well, that I had and needed a few more hours of rest before it was time to get up.

I discovered that the bell had it’s own hourly ritual. It rang on the hour, so three strikes for 3:00; at a quarter past a second bell with a quieter ring sounded once; at 3:30 a resounding three gongs plus two taps from the second bell; and three quiet gongs from the second bell on the 45. I waited for an hour to pass if I woke up just so I could go through an entire cycle of the night clock keeping time somewhere outside of my window.

Over the Christmas holiday, I woke up one night and heard the bell of the church in the near distance ring out. I don’t know if it’s something new or have I been so preoccupied in thought that I never noticed that it sounds out the hour throughout the night. Regardless, hearing it reminds me of the bell in the night across the Mediterranean, one of the things I will remember about my trip to the Amalfi Coast. Though the one outside my bedroom window only rings each hour and is not quite as lovely, it too brings me comfort and let’s me know that I need to turn over and get a little more rest before I have to get up. Speaking of which, I think I’ll catch a quick nap so...

keep your peepers open!®

ps…happy birthday to my niece glw!

winter garden

2012-01-04T09:05:00.001-05:00

A couple of years ago, I decided to keep cut flowers throughout my home on a monthly basis. Nothing fancy or terribly expensive, just simple bunches found at the farmers market or local grocers. Over the holidays, I kept the decorations to a bare minimum opting for beautiful blossoms to bring cheer to each room. Warm red tulips for Christmas…

…and glorious yellow roses for the New Year…

…my very own winter garden!

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happy new year

2012-01-01T11:17:00.001-05:00

twenty twelve

tina lassiter ©

Today is Sunday, New Year's Day

I wake with wonder, yippee, hooray!

So much in store, I just can't wait

for marvels appearing on a bright clean plate

to show me all new pathways and adventure

replacing things that weren’t the clencher.

With knowledge from experience past

I look ahead wide-eyed with sass

bigger, better, bolder, brighter

it's time to rock it like a chic prize fighter!

For sure, there will be time for leisure,

little luxuries, laughter I've got a fever

that tells me slow my busy down,

make more moments to paint the town,

wave my banner often and high

soaring beyond any clouds that drop by

as I thrive while making desires come true

with friends and family and just the right crew!

So as we welcome twenty twelve

pausing briefly just to delve

into this one most simple wish…

be well, do well, live well & flourish!®

happy new year and…

keep your peepers open!®

tending our gardens

2011-12-28T09:45:00.000-05:00

A multitude of inspirational and reminder messages have begun to circulate as we get closer to the start of 2012. I received one that prompted me to search for a passage that I’ve sent not just at the end of but also during the year. The gist of it is we should never be too busy to find a few moments for those we care about; that use of the word busy can make it appear as if we believe our lives and what we are doing is much more important than other’s; it can sound like "I don't have time for you".

The one thing we all know for sure is that we find time for the people and things we deem important. We often give our best selves to and go out of our way to please people who don't deserve it while giving those who are always there for us a little less of ourselves until life doles out a challenge. Suddenly we realize that those who are deeply rooted in our gardens are standing right there, no questions asked, to help us through but consider this…what if those roots were unearthed due to something beyond their control (or maybe deliberately) while we were busy?

As we move into the New Year, take a moment to slow it down. Pick up the phone, put down the text. Don’t let too much time pass before you connect with those who matter, who you wish to have/keep in your life. More importantly, be good and kind to those who have stood in your garden as the weeds came and went for they truly are the nourishment you will need to continue growing the beautiful person that you are.

See you in 2012 and as we count down...

keep your peepers open!®

merry christmas

2011-12-25T02:34:00.001-05:00

May your heart be light,

your days merry and bright, and

may life bring you all the presents
you hope for & desire.

Merry Christmas!!!

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warm hearts

2011-12-21T07:06:00.000-05:00

According to many of the holiday songs, there is but one temperature for this season. Think about those familiar tunes -- Let It Snow, Baby It’s Cold Outside, White Christmas, Winter Wonderland; the songs don’t take into account that not everyone experiences this season the same way in more ways that one.

Having always lived on the East Coast, I am quite accustomed to four distinct seasons. I’m not sure what it would be like to not expect the climate or my clothes to change along with the calendar. When I was younger, I wished that kids who had never seen, touched or tasted snow would have that experience. Over the years, the weather all over the world has been most unpredictable so folks who never knew what a white Christmas was have been able to find out just what it’s like. Also when I was younger, I wasn’t aware that other children were not unwrapping gifts in the warmth of their living room each December.

There is a feeling that comes with this time of the year that many share. Our hearts are light, filled with joy and hopefully the spirit of giving if we are able. I am moved by the news stories about people who are paying off the lay-away bills of families they don’t know and thankful that I am able to lend a hand. Today as the thermometer in DC rises to 60, it will still feel like Christmastime to me because it doesn’t matter what the weather is like, where we reside, or what our beliefs may be…it’s just the holiday season. Reach out if you can and…

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no humbug here!

2011-12-18T03:13:00.002-05:00

Like a warm blanket, the programs I enjoyed as a child have returned this season to wrap me in comfort as I plop down on my couch exhausted. I get so delighted when I stumble onto cartoons like the Grinch and Frosty the Snowman or a movie like The Wizard Oz after a day so full from beginning to end that it feels like I packed 48 hours into 24. Finding the familiar makes me forget how beat I am as I sing along with those old songs, the words ingrained in my head and heart. I probably know every line of It's a Wonderful Life, still remember the first time I saw it; I have never liked the fact that one network took it hostage years ago showing it once, no more than twice during the holiday season. Bah, humbug! But when they do there I am, a buffalo gal waiting for the moon to come out so she can dance…is it really one week until Christmas?

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peace on earth

2011-12-14T04:02:00.001-05:00

For several days now, I have had the urge to paint a watercolor Christmas tree in my journal just for the fun of it. Each and every time the thought crossed my mind, something kept me from breaking out my Crayola paint set of 16 colors to create my own little holiday vision. I’m really feelin’ the season but can't believe the layers of interruptions, distractions and demands that are trying to zap my jingle!!! By yesterday, I felt completely buried; it was time to exhume both the box and myself. Thirty minutes of countless brush strokes later, I was standing on top of that pile of stress singing “Oh Christmas tree” and feeling very much like Charlie Brown lovin’ mine regardless of how it might look just because it brought me joy (and breathed the breath of the season back into my spirit right when I needed it!).

So if you feel as if you’re under stress rather than the mistletoe, take a moment to unearth yourself, find a little bit of peace and...

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the unexpected

2011-12-11T05:02:00.003-05:00

I keep a file of magazine pictures that capture my attention for use when I collage. Sometimes, I happen upon an advertisement that includes a print of a canvas, photograph or sculpture that I keep fully in tact or in large pieces that I paste into my journal as part of my ongoing gallery of artwork I admire. Recently, I came across works by Dubuffet and Calder with abstract figures of a male and female respectively that to me felt kindred. Each was part of a larger work but it was the misshapen bodies and hypnotizing eyes that held my gaze, so I cut them from the pages, made them part of my journal entry and went to bed.

The following day, the scrap paper from the rest of the Dubuffet and Calder pieces was resting on top of the magazine. Instead of discarding it, I started making a torn paper collage from the colorful remains. The art and fun of making this type of collage is not thinking too hard about it, allowing the creation to happen by positioning the strips with an immediate commitment to their placement. I just let it flow and know when to stop. When there was no more paper to tear, I had only assembled something that didn’t take up the entire page; I was finished but it wasn’t finished. When I looked at what I made, it appeared to be a hat of some sort resting on top of an implied head. I felt as if a face was there, saw the line of the cheekbones, a chin though nothing else was in front of me. I began clipping lipsticked mouths of various colors and fullness, laying them down, picking them up until I found one that suited whoever was coming to life. A surge of excitement passed through me as it does when I’m solving a collage puzzle.

The next morning, I was not a peace with this piece. I couldn’t put my finger on it and over the next few days searched through magazines for the answer. One day I cut out a fabulous pair of sunglasses but abandoned them; they were too expected and so was the mouth I had put in place. I was a minute away from frustration when I understood what was happening…I was under the influence of the torn paper hat, which was really my version of the turban from the woman in the Calder picture. Because it was designed with strips of paper from the Dubuffet and Calder advertisements, that headdress was spurring me on to create my own abstract inspired by the figures I had cut from the magazine. Knowing this made the search for what fit clearer though finding them was a challenge. Over the past couple of weeks, I have patiently allowed the face to find her way to the page and yesterday, there she was…

…solved.

And then I remembered a photo taken of a blue gum eucalyptus tree in Italy. I had taken several pictures from various angles and was about to walk away when I felt something tap me on the shoulder. I turned around, looked down to find a face I’m glad I did not miss as it reminds me of so many abstract oil paintings

of faces made by my mother (and of the face of the abstract woman created by Calder and yes, upon further inspection, of the image I birthed).

Inspiration is waiting in places and moments least expected. Art is where you find it and is all the more of a find when unexpected, you just have to...

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last stop

2011-12-07T05:50:00.002-05:00

We visited Pompeii on our third day in Italy so it really was not the last stop. It did mark the first time I posted on the blog from there (see 11/6) and actually, I wrote while riding the bus to the ruins. It was a very rainy morning and if I remember correctly, Capri was the scheduled destination; it was not a day to be on the water, so our tour guide made some last minute changes to the itinerary. I was so excited about going to Pompeii because I couldn’t imagine anything surviving being buried under volcanic lava. I just had to see for myself. When I stepped off the bus, I felt tingly like I did in Egypt when I stood before the remarkable remains of cities, tombs, etc. from a time that I really could not fathom. I was anxious to walk the grounds and became quite alarmed when I heard some murmurs about the site probably not opening to tour due to the rain. No way! But I snapped as many pictures as I could from outside the locked gates just in case…

…and indeed the site was closed at least for the morning, so we left for Naples and when we came back in the afternoon, the sun was beaming…so was I…

…I found these completely in tact mosaic floors to be incredible and was amazed that they used the replication of a dog to tell people that animals lived in the home…

…and these countless artifacts on shelves, walls and the floor took my breath away, especially when I noticed the body of a man, and truly made me think of the great museum in Egypt…

…I couldn’t help but take some photos of the surrounding area because like Egypt, the site was in the midst of regular life, something that always felt strange to me…imagine looking at fashion-forward laundry hanging out to dry, modern day restaurants, and contemporary buildings while standing on the remains of things built thousands of years before…kind of like a mind you know what…

…and before we leave, let’s take a look at what created this historic location…

…Mt. Vesuvius was looking quite peaceful when I snapped that last photo and I do have to say that the one disappointment for me was the day we were to climb to the mouth of the volcano…we road all the way to the place where we begin the 15 minute walk and it started to rain…back on the bus before it got muddy and we were not able to reschedule…bummer (I got over it!)

I hope you have enjoyed the visit to the Amalfi Coast as seen through my eyes as our stroll through Pompeii is the last of the photos I will post from this vacation…ciao, at least for now, so...

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benvenuti!

2011-12-04T08:32:00.001-05:00

Though I could not speak the language, I moved about easily at each location we visited in Italy. I roamed with and without purpose, explored and was intrigued whenever I came upon a place that seemed to welcome a photo but left me wondering what was behind what I took. Take these doorknobs. As my hand traveled over each one, I was tempted to turn or pull them, find out who lived there…

…my favorite was from the Roberto Cavalli shop (which fortunately or unfortunately depending upon how I look at it, was closed the day I came under the spell of this huge prism and took one perfect shot) that has now come to symbolize endless possibilities due to its resemblance to a huge sparkling crystal ball of color.

Because so many places I visited in Italy were in the hills, there were countless entranceways and alleys with staircases and paths leading to I wondered where. I was drawn to the curve of an arch, began to become a little obsessed with trying to capture the shadows and finally started to formulate my own stories about what was beyond the gate, up the steps, or behind the door...

…so it only seemed fitting that when I was fortunate enough to find an artist in his shop, I was drawn to a bin with several of his pastels similar to the pictures I had taken…I finally uncovered the one that each time I look at it, takes me back…

...until the next time…

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b&w and brown

2011-11-30T02:48:00.002-05:00

There were moments while in Italy when I felt as if I was suddenly transported back in time and I’m not referring to when we walked the ruins of Pompeii. What I mean is I noticed how the decay and moss on some of the buildings and pottery gave those objects an old-world feel…

And then there were scenes that asked to be seen in black and white…

…or some shades in between.

But perhaps this is my favorite as so much about the Amalfi Coast including the art captured a piece of my heart. There's still more to see so…

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angles & curves & art three

2011-11-27T02:37:00.002-05:00

I spent my last two days in Italy roaming leisurely through Sorrento. The first day, it began to rain so I returned to the hotel, opened the door to the terrace so I could see the view, put my PJ’s back on, got in bed and napped, watched movies (in English with the credits in Italian...never could figure that out), and thumbed through Italian fashion and cooking magazines that I purchased in Capri…talk about leisure. The second day was so very perfect; I was out walking the town for at least four or five hours in the brightest sunshine ever! I found myself trying to retake some of the same pictures, later noting the difference between overcast and sunny and how I saw the same thing differently in a different light…

...and then there were the angles, curves and art (and other things of interest) all around Sorrento, regardless of the day or light...

...heading back to the hotel, I just kept taking it all in and just kept taking pictures.

This ends the angles, curves and art way of sharing all that I took in as I moved around the Amalfi Coast but trust me, there is more getting around to do, so...

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satiation

2011-11-23T07:31:00.002-05:00

No matter where I travel, there stands a McDonald’s! While it does provide a symbol of home and familiarity, it was not the place for me in a place known for its cuisine.

I had to remember that eating takes time in Italy and is done over several courses. The first night in Sorrento I was full after the bread and pasta…

...there just was no room in my tummy for the meat course, salad and dessert that followed!

I tasted almost everything served when we sat down to eat and though I rarely finished a full meal was quite satisfied each time I left a table. Interestingly enough, a simple plate served at the wine tasting was most satisfying mainly because the colors and textures were so appealing (ok, and we hadn’t had lunch yet, it was 3:15 in the afternoon and I was a tad on the famished side, but this small plate left me satiated).

This delicious sampling was followed by just picked from the tree tangerines…not sure I will ever forget the bright fragrance and succulent taste of FRESH ORANGE…

…of course there was wine…

…and a table with gorgeous chestnuts and tempting pomegranates…

I relished seeing fruit and olives on the vine and trees around any corner, in various state of ripeness, which always reminded me of the country I was visiting…

...and I don’t remember seeing a grocery store anywhere, but there were many local shops,

open air stands in town and at roadside,

that had an orgy of lusciousness to choose from,

much like the plentiful bounties of fresh fish with eyes for the fashions in the clothing boutique just next door,

and windows with yummy looking treats and other good things to be found.

I have to say that because I had changed my way of eating before I left for my trip, everything seemed more intense in flavor, rich and it only took a small amount of anything for me to feel indulged. The pistachio gelato I grabbed before I boarded the bus made me forget that I had skipped lunch opting to take photographs rather than stop to eat. A sip of the “you must try” limoncello left me with some hair on my chest! But the simplest thing I had left the most impact on my palette and that was a small bag of salty potato chips consumed very slowly while I sat on a green bench in town as I paused from a long walk on the most gloriously sunny day in Sorrento. My mouth still waters remembering their satiating crunch, a perfect end to a stellar venture as it was the last full day before we would leave for home.

On this Thanksgiving holiday, take a moment to use all of your senses to savor the flavors…and each other.

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angles & curves & art two

2011-11-20T07:07:00.004-05:00

...so where were we...oh yes, the island...

We took a short bus ride from our hotel down to the docks at Sorrento. I was glad I caught the first one rolling; it gave me ample time to capture the sights before we boarded the boat that would take us over to Capri...

this round bright red car immediately caught my eye...

...until I turned around and looked up...

...then around...

...rusted patina metals and colorful jagged rocks angled just so make attractive combinations...

...which I also found when we got to Capri; art happening naturally...bellisimo!...

...down on the dock of Capri...

...and then we caught the funicolare up to the next level of the island...

...where to my delight, art was embedded in the walls outside of shops...

...and the angles and curves of the buildings against the sky formed architectural artistic designs of their own...

...my eyes didn't know where to look next!...then we boarded a bus to take a steep, winding narrow road with lots of hairpin turns up to Anacapri..

...where the beauty of the angle, a curve and art both natural and manmade continued...

...even the cemetery made me pause to take in its picturesque serenity...

...more angles, curves and art to come but up next, FOOD!

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angles & curves & art

2011-11-16T08:38:00.005-05:00

As I captured photos of the exquisite views of and off the cliff sides during my visit to the Amalfi Coast, my creatively eclectic eye did not fail to miss many other views a little closer than the vistas in the distance. The angles, curves, and shapes both obvious and not spoke to me just as loudly as the scenery at times; their calls did not go unnoticed so here we go...

part of the airplane that flew us into Rome...

.... an antique urn sits in solitude on the marble landing that led up to my hotel room...

...free time in the town of Amalfi unveiled...

... a rainy day in Naples did not disappoint and though we didn't get off the bus in town, the views from the windows allowed for the creation of some perfect shots and what turned out to be rather abstract canvases that I really like...

... I just wanted to hug this pot at Pompeii...

...I found the lavatory on site sensual in curvaceous mosaic design...

...much like these luscious pears at a small market in Sorrento...

...I wanted to bite into their juicy flesh and speaking of eating, the graffit art on a food cart on the road up to Mt. Vesuvius...

...and down from the mountain was the Nobili del Vesuvio winery...

…more angles & curves & art, oh my on Sunday...

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eleven

2011-11-13T04:05:00.005-05:00

11/11/11 was a significant day because the number eleven was the month, day and year. Many felt that this was the day to do something meaningful since this triplet would not appear on the calendar again for centuries. I had the distinction of experiencing 11/11/11 as The Extended Version. Only through the magic of travel could I start the day looking at the shimmering reflection of the full moon on the Mediterranean, add six more hours as I attempted to doze through an 11, yes an 11 hour flight and end it looking at that same full moon as it shimmered on the Potomac.

When we boarded the bus at 5:30AM Sorrento time, I was already exhausted but had to get my last look at whatever incredible view I could steal before it would be just a vacation memory in mind and photographs. I was not disappointed as I looked over the cliffs into the moonlit water below before the sand person forced my weary eyes to close. When I woke the moon had become a huge beautifully translucent orb in front of the bus, the enormous glow of the sun was behind as I said arrivederci to the Amalfi Coast and buon giorno to Rome, and all its traffic, where my flight awaited.

Door to door, the trip back to the States was four hours short of 24; I couldn’t wait to pick up my bag and get home to my own bed (no matter how much I wished that I could have extended my stay in that gorgeous part of Italy, I could NOT wait to crawl under my own covers and snuggle down). But after what had been an almost uneventful day of travel, I could NOT believe that my bag had failed to meet me in DC (one of the reasons I never take connecting flights, especially if customs is involved). Every bit of exhaustion fell away from my bones -- this had never happened to me ever! I wanted to get pissed, as if that would have made the suitcase suddenly materialize. Instead, I gritted my tired teeth, spoke to someone in the baggage office and dragged my once again deliriously tired self into the night air to catch a cab. Seeing the moon made me remember to take this time to absorb the final minutes of an incredible journey that was about to come to an end exactly where it started...home. Anger just wasn’t an option.

I spent Saturday waiting for my luggage to be delivered and in the between downloaded and categorized 1,861 moments from my trip. Thankfully, I had been editing constantly while shooting or it would have been at least 300 more. I was careful not to take a nap in an effort to get back into a US sleep pattern and could not believe I slipped into doze mode around 7:11PM (I woke because my bag knocked at the door 11 minutes later, seriously). So here I am wide awake at 1:11AM Washington, DC time, my body thinking it’s 7:11AM Sorrento, Italy time deciding what to write about…

keep your peepers open!®

ps…and here’s hoping mine will shut again shortly!

pps…my niece celebrated her birthday on 11/11/11…through the magic of texting, I did not miss it!

look-a that

2011-11-09T01:58:00.004-05:00

Each time we round a corner on the long and winding cliffside roads that take us from town to town on the Amalfi Coast, our tour guide says, "Look-a that." He is referring to the spectacular vistas that do not get old quick no matter how many times you see them. One could easily decide to throw their passport over the side of one of those cliffs and take up residence in any town; there are no bad views. Some of my favorites...well, that's just hard to say!

keep your peepers open!®

SORRENTO

POSITANO

AMALFI

CAPRI

ANACAPRI

rainy day away

2011-11-06T02:50:00.004-05:00

It's a seriously sloppy rainy day here on the Amalfi Coast! We could practically swim on our spacious balcony of fittingly blue tiles...and still it is just magnifico as we board the tour bus to take the hour ride along the winding road down the mountain from Sorrento to Pompeii!

keep your peepers open!®

ps...pictures to come...

murphy's angels

2011-11-02T08:10:00.000-04:00

There is a law that says if anything can go wrong, it will. Of course since I’m referencing it, I Googled it and there are web sites devoted to good old Murphy! I thought about him as my day unfolded something like this…

…the car had to be towed because the battery died and AAA couldn’t replace it because the belt needed to be tightened which then unveiled that my vintage car needed parts replaced to the tune of $900 and that was going to take a few days when I would be thousands of miles across the ocean being mesmerized by the Mediterranean meaning that it would have to be kept and AAA could not go back to put in the battery if I was not there to sign the warranty…

(breathe)

…somewhere in the midst of cursing under my breath it dawned on me that my registration had not come back in the mail though I had sent the payment back in September so I called DMV only to discover (long story short) that my license had expired back on my birthday and who knew because I didn’t receive anything telling me it was time to renew I mean really it’s good for seven years and who the heck would remember…they send out a notice for registration, why not licenses though I was told that they do it as a courtesy at times…WHAT…kind of sense does that make and to add insult to injury I had two days before my plates were due to expire but I thought that sticker on my car and on my registration that says 11/17 meant THAT was the date so she tells me I need to get my license renewed and after I do that there would be a computer at the site where I could go online to redo the registration and plate thing…

(breathe)

…well I could have gone the next day, which would have been today to DMV to take care of everything but never put off to tomorrow what you can, well you know the rest so off I went at 3:15PM (taking a few moments to slick my hair down and slap on some gloss because my hair appointment is actually today not yesterday and I knew they would take my picture and I CANNOT go for seven years with a jacked up pic on the license) to get in line, get a number and sit until they called my name which they did at around 4:00 and low and behold the man at the counter said he could take care of everything at the same time, no need to find whatever computer that woman told me about (which I looked for on my way out, it did not exist)...

(breathe)

Murphy has never met my troops, the many angels, goddesses, and spirits who look out for me. Thankfully, the car was parked in my space behind my home when it did not start; I could have been anywhere and the thought of the fan belt possibly breaking last week as I cruised at 60MPH on the Beltway made me cringe. Thankfully, I had not been stopped for any reason over the last month with an expired license. More importantly, what would have happened if I needed to show it at the airport and they noticed? Thankfully, though they were on the verge of getting nasty, I heard each person I had to deal with take a moment to shift into a patient and as helpful as they could be person when they realized I was a tad bit nerve wracked with all that was happening as I was also trying to prepare to leave the country. Thankfully, I followed my own instincts and took a few days off before I go on vacation so that all Murphy’s were quickly turned into Murphette’s (okay, I uttered a few choice words and vented when someone would listen but I managed to keep my cool when dealing with others and took a moment to reflect at every twist along the way to again tell myself just how very fortunate I am).

An artist friend of mine is working on a commission for my office. When I went to look at her progress, within the large canvas was a little spirit looking person that captured my eye. I dubbed this being my goddess of work in wellness motion however, I believe she has seriously been working overtime in harmony with all other beings that take care of fools, babies and those with so much going on that they need to slow down and…

(breathe).

Ciao for now and…

keep your peepers open!®

artwork is part of a larger piece created by kathy beynette

day is done

2011-10-30T07:59:00.002-04:00

As my birthday month comes to its end, the unusual October snowfall is a reminder that the unexpected can bring both elated bliss and change. This month, my artwork has unveiled a shift in perspective and voice that could introduce me to a different audience. New friends have come into my life as I reacquainted myself with friends from my past and shared time with friends who are and have been with me through thick and thin. All of them have made me laugh, laugh, and laugh some more! And while I have cried over those who have come and gone, having to now make the adjustments necessary if I want to heal my body has kept me creatively preoccupied mentally, physically, spiritually and in the kitchen as I adjust to the change that comes with absence. Thankfully, my journal full of artistic expression has kept pace with all that has occurred, is a pleasurable place for me to go each day before it's done, and will remain as a permanent record to remind me of one thing -- it truly has been a memorable October full of all sorts of changes that not a one would I change. That, as they say, is a good thing.

Snow makes me giggle and is the perfect punctuation mark to an exceptional birthday month. Closing it out on such a quiet high note is just where I want to be as I prepare for the adventure that is going to be my November so…

keep your peepers open!®

ps...happy birthday to my nephew!

sp&b

2011-10-26T06:49:00.001-04:00

Undoing habitual behavior is a hard habit to break! Though breakfast has never been my favorite meal of the day, I came to terms with the fact that it is a must for getting the day and the body started. A toasted bagel, sometimes with peanut butter, banana and honey, more often than not, plain did me fine at work. Weekends required a cereal bowl, which I would fill with oatmeal, Cheerios, Shredded Wheat or Greek yogurt with fruit. Who knew that, with the exception of the banana, each of those foods is not compatible with arthritic conditions? It was time to put on my creative kitchen chapeau. What would be healthy and tasty that was not only arthritis friendly but would also be something I would want to eat first thing in the morning...

On 11/10/10, I wrote about a quick breakfast of sweet potato and banana with pecans and honey…so I turned that idea into a yummy pudding. You will need a food processor (I bought a small Cuisinart with a three cup container that is perfect) to get the consistency right; until I bought mine, mashing and stirring sufficed but the texture was far from the superior smoothality obtained after a few seconds of whirring in this little kitchen appliance. Below are the basic ingredients and measurements for my morning sp& b pudding, but I suggest you experiment with how much seasoning you use or try some other ones. If you don’t like bananas go bananas and substitute something else (should you use the yellow potassium filled fruit and want to make some for later, note that they may cause the mixture to turn brownish-orange. Not to worry, it’s still good).

sweet T’s sp&b pudding

¾ C baked mashed sweet potato
¼ C banana (or 1 small)
1 tbsp. ground flax seed
¼ tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
½ tsp. imitation rum
2 tsp. chopped pecans
½ tsp. agave nectar
chopped walnuts

Put all ingredients except walnuts in the food processor and I pulse for a few times with chop button then hold it down to puree. Scoop out into a nice bowl, top with walnuts, maybe a tiny bit more agave and get ready to say yum!

I knew this was good when I let some folks taste it and they remarked how the layers of flavors just kept coming…if I haven’t learned anything from Top Chef, I do know that I had received a high compliment. Enjoy the pudding anytime of the day and as you do…

keep your peepers open!®

bling!...with a backstory

2011-10-23T08:24:00.001-04:00

Reestablishing my journal writing at a time when I am working on reversing or at least holding in check this arthritis is a marriage that though I didn't plan for has proved to be a perfect match. My creative energy is consistently flowing, infusing me with a positive force that little by little is moving out the blockage in more ways than one. The word game I’ve been playing in my journal produced this page a few days ago…

Yesterday, a new collage goddess appeared. I struggled with who she is, had no clue as she developed before me. Even when she was complete, I was still clueless. It wasn’t until right before I went to sleep that I realized she was somehow connected to what I composed with my paper words the other day. I also understood that she represented a longtime struggle between two sides of me…the bourgeoisie and the bohemian. Thankfully, she let me know that it’s okay to rock Doc Martin’s by day and Jimmy Choo by night but more importantly she unlocked a door that has been jammed shut for me for way too long -- no matter how glamorous we make ourselves, without a healthy, well and working body, eventually all that is will no longer be. Perhaps that’s a leap to those who are reading this; it makes all the sense in the world to me.

My body truly is now a work in wellness motion, so here I am, “bling!…with a backstory” and boy do I have more tales to tell, so…

keep your peepers open!®

rewarding awe

2011-10-19T19:11:00.001-04:00

Though I’m not too crazy about insects, there is one that makes me pause and behold; the praying mantis outside of the holistic treatment center was a message meant for me to discover. But let’s back up for a moment…

I pulled into the parking lot of gravel very much in tune with the crunching sound beneath the four tires on my car, swung my feet out the door to step onto the crunch now in touch not only with sound but direct feeling…thank goodness I had on solid soled shoes that absorbed the sharpness of the rock sparing the soul in my feet from a jagged wake up call on a perfectly lazy warm afternoon I noticed a small white butterfly flitting near the purple flower and goody for me I had my camera which I whipped out to capture the tiny creature before she flew away but she stopped me in order to show me more than her pretty wings...how very fortunate yet not fortuitous, I can’t describe the moment that made me remember when I was a child and how in awe I was on the rare occasions when a praying mantis would show herself to me and how curious I thought it was then and now though somehow I knew not to harm her but I will admit that I captured one in a jar once…later, after I stared at it for who knows how long, I let her go and today I paused to really watch the slow deliberate motions, noticed a face carved with wisdom which made me shake my head in seriously dumbstruck awe as she continued on with her doings I felt she knew I was there admiring…it felt as if she had willed me to discover her presence that was now the reward…had I been in a split second of a hurry I would not have noticed her in all her camouflaged glory and missed what she wanted me to tell me…

The praying mantis is a symbol of patience and stillness; she only makes a move when she is 100% sure it is the right move. When one appears it is time to get quiet, go within, get centered and before the next move is made, all should be copasetic.

keep your peepers open!®

moments

2011-10-16T04:44:00.000-04:00

time is precious
love is breathless.
life is about

black magic moments...

feel beautiful.

life is a collection of experiences.

trust your instincts

let your hair down

live the moment.

I’ve been challenging myself to a creative writing game in my journal. I flip through a magazine, clip words or phrases that speak to me, then place them on the page. I move them around linking one to another until they reveal other messages that become part of a collage made with pictures that curiously seem to relate to what’s written with the glued strips of paper. I love this mental exercise. Not only is it fun but relaxing and just the right amount of light lifting that my brain needs to keep it in shape.

it’s lovely at the top…

keep climbing.

And as you do…

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in the pause...

2011-10-12T15:03:00.000-04:00

...when the days are dark and uncertain remember that the sun will come out if not tomorrow, eventually...so if you’re waiting for brighter times, be still in the pause and…

keep your peepers open!®

week in review

2011-10-09T11:10:00.000-04:00

As my birthday week off draws to a close, I am pleased to note that it has been beyond splendid as well as productive and uplifting. So much laughter and time shared with friends provided a spirited foundation for a lifestyle change; the past seven days was not just about celebration but restoration as I embarked on a wellness adventure. At first, I struggled with understanding the difference between alkaline and acidic foods and once I got somewhat of a handle on that, educating myself on what alkaline foods are also arthritis friendly. Yes, I’ve been diagnosed and decided to take action while it’s just a mild diagnosis; a change in what we eat can make a difference in the progression of something that affects millions.

Somewhere in the midst of the week, I turned to creativity or maybe it called out to me. Art has played a huge part in healing for me in my past and once again has helped me ease into managing an illness. I decided to begin keeping a journal again, something I abandoned once I got into writing the blog. As much as I enjoy blogging, nothing beats the tactile experience of writing with different color markers, scribbled drawings, pasting in pictures, painting with watercolors and making torn paper collages on a whim; the act of tearing provides a release of that well-buried mild anxious anger that comes with how did I let this happen.

For the first time, I actually decorated the front of my journal and did so with abandon yet meaning.

I also enlarged photographs of fruits and vegetables, cut them into pieces, reassembled them on top of an x-ray of my bones then put the picture into a frame, upon reflection knowing that what I was telling myself is that surrounding the challenge with healthy beauty is my way to wellness. That those words I found in a magazine, BE COLORFUL, were both an affirmation that the bright work I was producing in rapid succession for my eyes only was exactly what I needed as well as a reminder for what I should select to nourish the body, bones and joints.

Taking photographs of pretty arrangements of food and understanding that it’s one step at a time, hence the bacon on the plate is quite helpful; there is something psychological about showing the mind pleasant visual images as a means to shift thinking and behavior.

But not all of my creative energy was channeled into dealing with health issues hence my sudden desire to make mini torn paper collages out of the bags my birthday gifts came in and send the picture as part of a thank you note.

And then there was my trip to the museum, which produced my own interpretation of some of the work I viewed…

…and a view of the museum.

It really has been a full birthday week which will now turn into my birthday month, days that I know will be filled with creative exploration in more ways than one. So as I lift a glass in celebration of health, wellness, and healing expression, I know for sure there is more to come...

keep your peepers open!®

LMAO

2011-10-05T07:20:00.000-04:00

...lots of birthday fun last evening…LaughedMAO so now I'm sleepin’ it off as I continue my week long celebration so until Sunday…

keep your peepers open!®

queen every day

2011-10-02T04:29:00.002-04:00

…a few birthday eve thoughts that somehow wrap together, I just can’t seem to tie them with a neat bow because it’s too early in the morning...it would please the queen if you would indulge her for this one…

Birthday 2010, I was walking in the footsteps of kings and queens that may have been part of my ancestry as my friends and I toured Egypt; birthday 2011, I received my very own crown and dubbed the Queen of Hearts during an early birthday celebration. It never matters when, where, or how my special day is marked. What matters is that I’m here to rejoice in some unique way with others as well as by myself relaxing, reflecting, pampering and/or making merry.

One of my nicknames is Queenie, a term of endearment used several years back by my close female friends; one of my male friends has referred to me as Queen since we met. I’m honored because two definitions of the word queen are, in part 1) a greatly admired woman who stands out and 2) a place or thing considered the best of its kind. The Queen is also the most powerful chess piece something I did not know but have now stored to play when needed.

Those who know me well know that my birthday is major. They also understand that sometimes the simplest things are the most meaningful. I love my red paper crown with its sparkling faux jewels, artful design and heart-shaped cutouts created just for me with me in mind. It was indeed a most thoughtful gesture, as the person who made it knows I collect hearts and that I recently took a photograph of roses that when turned upside down revealed the queen of hearts, my favorite playing card followed by the king of spades. True confession -- when I was a little girl and to this day, they are a couple and whenever I play solitaire if at all possible she always rests on him.

So on this October 3rd I will be reminded that though my king has not yet arrived, I am still the queen each and every day…I have the crown to prove it. Happy Birthday all!

keep your peepers open!®

not down w FB

2011-09-28T06:18:00.002-04:00

I swore I would never join Facebook or FB as I now know. My sister convinced me to do so immediately as a way to garner votes for my portfolio of photographs that I have entered into Art Takes Miami 2011. I certainly don’t claim to be an electronic guru but my goodness, navigating FB requires a manual! The time it takes to set up your page, find friends, post a message…it took me much longer to do all that than it took to send an email to my established address book that brought in more votes than my newly developed means of networking. Honestly, I've never had any interest in socializing via FB nor do I care to read streams of conversation that have no meaning to me. Sure, it’s a nice way to find people but only if you want to find them or them to find you but I’m not that hard to locate, just Google me. Perhaps I'll maintain a business page for exposure (which is what I thought I was setting up only to make one wrong entry and wella, a social page appeared, very confusing!). On another note, entering my photos into the Miami competition was quite easy to do but I realize it probably is a means to recruit artists to utilize a paid online service where we can show our work. Right now it’s free; I’ll decide in the very near future if I should become a subscriber or just go ahead and set up a new web site to showcase and sell my photographs. I’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, my friends and family have gotten excited about the whole voting thing, me too! It has been fun. Even if I don’t win the $2500 people’s choice award, I’ve already won…I caught up with some folks I haven’t been in contact with for quite some time, have some new admirers AND yippee...buyers! If you care to vote, click on http://tscott.see.me/atm2011, do so daily until 10/14/11, and…

keep your peepers open!®

a spoon full of funny

2011-09-25T05:31:00.005-04:00

I found myself sitting in the dark again only this time not in a movie theatre by myself but in a huge room with hundreds of others who along with me came for the pain. Three hours later, I stumbled out of that room with cramps in my stomach, a raw throat and two black eyes...my mascara was running from laughing so hard that I cried while watching the comedian that is Paul Mooney. OMGoddess that man is a riot!

Comedy is an art form that I do admire. I couldn’t help but note as I snorted, hooted and fell out of my seat over and over again, that we as an audience provide a page on which to write line after line, weave story after story. Linking what was scribed into the air an hour before to the immediate madness without being able to actually go back and read what was said earlier is the mark of one who knows his craft. Sure I’ve seen a comedian at work before however, this was the first time I understood that stand-up comedy is a masterpiece created moment to moment inspired by both the times in which we live, political and otherwise, and the

audience. Unlike other artistic expressions, there can be no replication so you just have to be there for the unveiling that is continuous and in this case went on non-stop from 10:30 pm to 1:30 am; my throat is still in recovery.

The ability to bring humor to sensitive subjects, to be downright offensive while at the same time tickling our funny bone, to deliver one-liners that knock a heckler out yet leaves him doubled over in hysterical admiration is a creative talent that not all can master. And while the truth can hurt, some of its bitterness is better swallowed with a spoon full of funny so lighten up and…

keep your peepers open!®

ps…happy birthday to that skinny little bitch…she’s the one who invited a group of us girls to join her for the riot @ the Riot! all the best to ya honey and in a word that is truly yours...CHEERS!

photo of paul mooney from www.riotactcomedy.com

longing

2011-09-21T05:33:00.003-04:00

On the spur of an overcast Sunday moment, I decided to go to a 10:45 am showing of Midnight in Paris, which turned out to be my own private screening. As the story unfolded, I found myself thinking back to moments in my life when I felt as if I was born in the wrong era. Like the character in the movie, feeling misunderstood or out-of-step with the people and everything around me has sometimes made me long to be elsewhere connecting with those who need no explanations, who listen and don’t talk over me or ignore my contributions. Unlike the character in the movie, I have not time traveled physically to interact with creative individuals from the past. However, I have closed my eyes and journeyed while standing still imagining what it would be like to mingle amongst the writers, poets, musicians, photographers and artists of the Harlem Renaissance my favorite era.

I left the theatre wondering how we can be nostalgic for a period in time that we’ve never known. Maybe romanticized stories tap into empty spaces lined with some sense of familiarity filling them with a feeling of comfort or perhaps we did indeed live in another age that is stamped on our current DNA (if you happen to believe in reincarnation). More than likely, we are dissatisfied, unhappy, disillusioned and afraid to accept the truth and make the necessary changes believing that back whenever was better …but we know that’s not the case. Much like the character in the movie comes to realize, I am grateful to be living right now with all the advances and conveniences of these modern times. I am astounded by all that has happened since I arrived on the planet, can’t believe how what’s hip this second is already passé the next. And much like keeping pace with the here and now, exposing our creative self can be both exhilarating and exhausting! Not all will get me, you or it and really, do we always want them to?

Unlike the character in the movie who loved walking in the rain and did so in the last scene, my preference is to stroll beneath a light drizzle, which I did until I stood still for a few, closing my eyes to take hold of the past, touch the future and long for nothing but my next breath.

keep your peepers open!®

cowgirl booty

2011-09-18T06:50:00.000-04:00

Not less than three days ago, I was wearing cotton or linen tops and dresses along with some form of sandals. The sudden appearance of cool crisp air this weekend sent me straight to my favorite apparel for this time of year -- a cashmere turtleneck sweater and boots! When the seasons shift into the cool and cold, I love roaming the city range in a pair of my Lucky Brand cowgirl kicks (I have two pairs in different colors they are just that comfortable) with whatever outfit I throw on. If summer is about the bangle (see June 5, 2011 blog cuff me), fall is definitely about the boot as another form of my fashion accessory declarations. In fact, I found the perfect combination of western sass and jeweled adornment last week while looking at boots online; I am too through this morning to discover that they are no longer available which tells me one of two things -- if you’re slow, you blow OR, better yet, less is already enough!

…but knowing me as I do, I will now be more determined than ever to find, rope and tie those dang cowgal boots that got away, so…

keep your peepers open!®

twinkling like a star

2011-09-14T06:07:00.001-04:00

Stars don't just twinkle in the sky, they also dazzle at our fingertips and beneath our feet in a full spectrum of colors and textures...

…take a moment as summer morphs into autumn to not only smell the roses but to star gaze at eye level which means you will need to…

keep your peepers open!®

fragile

2011-09-11T07:11:00.001-04:00

On the eve of 9/11, I was compelled to pull over on the highway to snap a shot of the Washington Monument. We were attacked on a day just like this one and a weird feeling about the Monument not standing tall as part of the DC panorama made me stop my car. It had sustained damage during the earthquake a few weeks ago showing just how fragile it is against natural causes; the thought of a deliberate attempt to destroy it gave me pause. I try not to get too emotional when this time of year comes again but there is something haunting about it being 10 years since the lives of Americans changed once again forever. The United States, particularly certain cities, is on high alert right now, which this year has left me feeling unsettled. I have no desire to be on Capitol Hill or near the White House and wonder if I will venture out onto the Mall for my morning walk. I hate feeling like this.

Americans bonded on the day of and for months following the attack a decade ago. Fragile, we cared about and for one another united by a tragedy that touched almost everyone; how quickly that desire to be one disappeared. It gives me chills thinking about how very un-united we really are, about the uncivilized way we treat each other moment to moment. I am far from naïve knowing all too well that this behavior is human nature for countless individuals but now on each 9/11 that reality becomes quite magnified for me.

So on this day as we reflect, perhaps we should also remember that a people united can never be defeated…a tall order when minds seem to opt for being small.

keep your peepers open!®

let's eat cake!

2011-09-07T01:41:00.003-04:00

When someone acknowledges my work as a source of inspiration for their creativity, I’m not only humbled, but am motivated to continue being creative. Recently, my profile appeared on Queen City Cake Studio, a blog that features cake creations by blogger Toni Johnson and others. One of the questions Toni sent me to ponder was about my favorite food. Part of my answer included the following, “Being equipped with a serious foundation for how food is prepared unleashed a desire to play in the kitchen that has never gotten old; learning how to make a palatable meal when I’ve messed something up became a metaphor for how to manage life’s messes.” As I reviewed my responses to all of her questions before I hit send, I did a double take when I read the above passage; I did not remember typing those words, but they made so much sense! The skills required to unscramble a scrambled mess of things comes with practice, a willingness to take a good look at what contributed to the mess and the patience to get it right sometimes through more attempts than we have ingredients for. But when it’s worth it, we keep working at it and isn’t it funny how things get infused into our being and where they originate.

Looking over the questions that focused on my love of being in the kitchen and my artistic creativity provided food for thought that made me sit down for a meal rather than a quick snack. I happen to know the woman who pens Queen City, have actually tasted Toni's confections and was delighted that photographs on my July 3rd blog that referenced July 4th challenged her to create this three-tiered sensation!

Makes me want to celebrate and eat some cake, which I have to go in search of so as I do...

keep your peepers open!®

photo courtesy of Toni Johnson

the happy fall

2011-09-04T06:06:00.000-04:00

Wow! Where does the time go? Hard to believe it's September but September it is as we welcome in the next season. I love the shift of the sun in the sky, the smell of the wind as it changes temperature, and the autumnal colors across the landscape that each help paint the canvas for this time of year that we call fall. As much as I love spring, autumn is actually my favorite season. I was born in October so my birthday falls in the fall and I do celebrate the day of my arrival into this world with all the fanfare that accompanies the beauty of nature as she puts on new outfits for us to enjoy. September also signals a second celebration for me. It marks another year of creative thought, writing and pictures that is this blog, giving me one more thing to be oh so happy about.

Tomorrow I’m observing a non-laborious Labor Day, hope you are too.

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tee turns two

2011-08-31T21:24:00.000-04:00

Even the animals know when they need to stop and stretch out the body; taking a wellness break on this last day of summer. See you in September when The Eclectic Eye (TEE) turns two!

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the day before

2011-08-28T01:45:00.001-04:00

Mother Nature has been having her way with the East Coast this past week, first an earthquake now Hurricane Irene! When I woke on Saturday, the rains had not yet begun so I headed out with my camera (now affectionately called lumi-belle) into an atmosphere I can only describe as tropical. The wind made its presence known just as a reminder that a storm was coming noted in the ringing of chimes on porches and the flapping of my white blouse around my thighs as I stopped to capture flags unfurling in waves above my head…

…as always, the flowers called out to me to capture them in their final moments before beating rain and strong gusts would strip them of their blossoms, altering their complexions too soon…

…the bees were buzzing wildly about and flies were perched on petals as if they were in a drugged stupor…

…it didn’t seem likely but when I looked up, it was 10:30AM, three hours had passed and as I looked down at a big brown acorn, I felt the first drop of rain plop on my forehead…

…fortunately I was a block from home. I didn’t rush to get inside especially since I knew I would be there for at least the next 24 hours.

As I sit at 12:40AM remembering the day before, tree leaves swishing loudly and water spilling over the gutter, Irene is just really beginning to show DC exactly what she’s got. I happened to look up from my laptop to see the strangest picture on my sputtering TV screen -- a totally deserted Grand Central Station in NYC. Wow!

Here’s hoping that the eye of this storm will close without leaving behind too much mayhem but, until it shuts…

keep your peepers open!®

the morning after

2011-08-24T06:59:00.001-04:00

About two weeks ago, I picked up an ornate ceramic bowl that has been sitting on some surface in my homes for over 12 years; a nice neat slice of it remained in my hand as I watched the rest of it fall back onto the coffee table. Yesterday, I walked into the mini disaster that was my apartment after a 5.8 earthquake hit the east coast. Almost everything on the walls was hanging askew; a champagne glass fell out of the cabinet hitting me before it crashed to the floor. Several things had been launched from their various perches landing on top of one another or far from where they had stood and a few sculptures and ceramic pieces were broken.

When the bowl cracked so neatly in my hand that day, I remember thinking that though broken it was not beyond fixing. I took that as a metaphor for how I was managing situations with people and took steps to rectify some of my missteps….some, not all. So as the earth moved under my bum yesterday during a meeting, one of the first things that came to mind after evacuating to safety those around me and checking in with friends and family was the one person I wanted to speak with that I was no longer speaking to. Suddenly, the misunderstanding caused by miscommunication felt trivial and just plain silly when all I wanted to know was if my friend was safe from possible harm.

Perhaps Mother Nature was sending me and I am sure thousands more messages that only each person would comprehend. It took the shake, rattle and roll of an earthquake that lasted no more than a few minutes for two people to unearth words that couldn’t be found for weeks because of ego, pride and maybe a little fear. As I pulled out the glue to patch up the broken, it was very clear to me that what I held in my hand was just stuff when compared to the welfare of and relationships with people in my life; the thought of never hearing someone’s voice again puts a stop to the nonsense and can quell the deepest tremor.

Pick up the pieces, patch up what’s damaged if in your heart you know it’s right and as you do….

keep your peepers open!®

wild rides

2011-08-21T07:02:00.001-04:00

I read a passage comparing the journey of water to our own life journey. How it winds over and around bumps and turns much like the challenges we face, how it remains fluid keeps moving forward picking up energy regardless. The past couple of weeks have felt like a white water rafting trip gone wild. Thankfully, the words that popped up in that email from DailyOm took hold of the boat guiding it and me into a peaceful glide that brought me safely to shore...I’m still trying to catch my breath.

Channeling my energy to redirect my flow, so until Wednesday…

keep your peepers open!®

admirable aspirations

2011-08-17T07:34:00.002-04:00

When asked recently, I described myself as an eclectic artist, writer and photographer who loves to cook, has a serious flair when it comes to interior design, and is newly passionate about international travel. Well before my trip to Egypt last fall, I had become enamored with two travel magazines. The first is the now no longer published quarterly Town & Country Travel issue; lush in color, texture and content, I drooled over the pages leisurely, imagining the aromas that would pleasantly assault my nose, fingering places I wished my feet to touch as I filed everything in the must go there body file. Thankfully, AFAR had already hit the newsstands and my radar when the last T&C Travel came home with me. Much different, AFAR's feel is hip, quick, makes me want to go immediately and travel like a nomad planting myself in as many places as I can. I absorb its pictures and articles usually in one slurp then go back to take little bites at a time. Both magazines encourage my desire to go beyond the shores of the USA, have envious photographs I admire. As I flip through old issues of Town & Country and new ones of AFAR, I am coaxed to pack my camera and continue my pursuit of photos that I hope others will admire and envy.

In the Sept/October issue of AFAR is an article on street art. JR, a self-described photograffeur is featured along with a full page containing a picture of a photograph he posted on a staircase in Rio de Janeiro. I had to look several times before I realized that the snapshot he took was actually adhered to steps not the side of a building; wow, something to aspire to was all I could say as I admired his art for so many reasons. His larger than life size photograph reminded me of my first enlarged to larger than poster size photo that I just sold. Seeing something I had taken blown up that big…wow, wow, wow!

Go somewhere and as you go…

keep your peepers open!®

house keeping

2011-08-14T08:46:00.002-04:00

Friday evening was filled with food, fun, flowers and festivity! In addition to having art on display, on display for those who attended the reception was performance art, a nice touch. The weather was perfect, cool no humidity and there was a full moon. Surrounded by friends and others who love the cultural arts, I bathed in the moment; it had been such a long struggle. Seems like every possible obstacle challenged me from the start however, a determination to get my show up despite the who, what, when or why that presented itself fueled me at times when my energy was on low ebb and the body was on no. But none of that mattered on Friday and after a stop at the train station (I had said to the universe earlier in the day that it would be nice if at least one person who I didn’t expect to show actually did…the universe delivered! My good friend came down from Jersey only to be with me for the opening; as I walked out of the restroom she was walking out of the elevator, a lovely surprise.) I headed home anticipating a peaceful rest and a quiet Saturday to do nothing or whatever.

Now sometimes the universe gives us just what we want just the way we ask and then there are those exceptions. I slept late on Saturday morning, the phone taking messages that I read when I finally got up. Most of the text and emails didn’t require my attention but one of them made me pause; I ended up climbing back into bed with magazines and sadness. After a few hours of contemplation, resolution and junk food, I began to flip through the magazines landing on a page in Elle Décor with beautiful Steuben glass objects….and then it started. A thought zinged through my head -- could I create a collage goddess from paper pieces clipped from one magazine starting with that picture of a vase? My adrenalin began to race; it was on! I grabbed scissors, glue and paper on which to place the image then ripped pages and pictures filling up the top of my comforter all the while forming the image in my mind while my hands searched the pages. As I cut out a few things that I thought would be used for hair or a head-piece, she hit me.

My hands assembled what my mind and heart knew was needed but didn’t want to accept or verbalize. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Cleaning House…

The universe does bring us what we need and in this case, she eased a sad situation by stimulating my creative spirit. I got so excitedly involved with what I was doing; the day passed, it was time to clear the bed for rest and that I did at peace all night long.

keep your peepers open!®

lush!

2011-08-10T07:05:00.001-04:00

If you're in the DC area, stop in for...

"lush!"

an exhibit of collage art & photographs

tina s. lassiter

Busboys & Poets

5th & K Streets NW

Washington, DC

Friday, August 12, 2011

6:00 - 8:00PM

special performance by

The Saartjie Project

The show will be up until October 31, 2011 if you can't make it Friday but I'll be there then, so if you come...

keep your peepers open!®

poppin'

2011-08-07T10:24:00.002-04:00

A few kernels of doubt can pop up and crowd a bowl with so much fluff that it’s hard to hear your own thoughts. Though it can be a challenge at times, I’ve become more adept at picking out the burnt stuff well before it has a chance to sprinkle distaste around the good. Right now, I’m muchin’ from a vintage vessel filled with positive spirit that leaves me nourished. Delicious!

Pop your own bowl of inspiration, affirmations, encouragement and light. I guarantee it will sound & taste much better when it contains what you believe and while you’re getting full…

keep your peepers open!®

shopper's delight

2011-08-03T18:43:00.000-04:00

I admire those folks I see on TV that clip coupons, buy the specials, do two for’s and a whole host of other things I cannot recall at this moment that deduct from the total bill until the register rings up zero or a negative number. Now that’s some creative shopping! I actually practiced the art of strategizing to get more for less a few holidays back. Using gift cards and percent off certificates, exchanging items I either had or had no use for and keeping up with the Christmas and New Year’s weekly sales and markdowns, I redressed my table with a new set of dishes, wine and champagne glasses and flatware for eight for a total of $120. I still giggle with delight at my shrewd shopping skills each time I eat or drink from any of those purchases.

I guess I got a tiny bite from the savings bug after that. This past week, I spent time on the Vista Print site creating two sets of 100 custom designed, double sided postcards for $9.99 plus shipping for each order (and got 10 free magnets that had my artwork on them as a bonus with one of those orders). Why spent $50 plus if I only need to shell out 20? At the FedEx office, the 20% coupon I applied to my order of $10 or more saved me few bucks. Even my decision to carry and use a credit card is now predicated on what perks they offer. Recently, the points accumulated on one Visa allowed me to get the cutest grill (Bodum Fyrkat available in black, white or four bright summer colors) for $3.29…now if only the weather would cool down enough to keep me from baking while I cook on it!

keep your peepers open!®

luscious delights

2011-07-31T08:33:00.000-04:00

I am preparing to hang an exhibition of my collage art and photographs entitled “lush!” When I think of that word and the work I selected for the show, many adjectives come to mind; rich, voluptuous, juicy, bountiful, vibrant are just a few. The walls of the Cullen Room at Busboys & Poets at 5th & K NW will be adorned for the next three months with over 36 goddesses and flowers that bring those adjectives to life, but there are other subjects that tempt me with those same words. Check out the sumptuous earthy delights found at the farmer’s market…

My mouth watered as I walked beneath the white canvas tents, a cool breeze mingling among them. So captivated was I by the lusciousness surrounding me, I barely noticed the rising heat as my camera gorged itself not knowing what to snap next; we left satiated.

Put on your sun hat and treat yourself to a lavish feast for the tummy and eyes at your local outdoor market if you…

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bedtime

2011-07-27T21:24:00.002-04:00

head lazily wilts

heavy against your waiting cushion

eyes flutter…and sigh.

drenced with fatigue

they wake to defer.

petals of intoxicating slumber

stroke my cheek, kiss me good night, drift over the crevices
and rest in between places unknown.
I inhale your elixir that convincingly whispers
"lie with me in this sleep".

until Sunday...

keep your peepers open!®

sticky situation

2011-07-24T11:55:00.004-04:00

Art imitates life. Not sure who originally made that statement but for the past couple of months I’ve been pondering it in reverse as I work on a project I thought I had enough experience with to actualize my vision. That is until pain that made it impossible to think straight or focus on the smallest task began to give me a fresh and immediate canvas on which to build.

During the time I lived in NYC, I made the decision to opt for more holistic treatments to manage crippling back pain when medicine and routine visits to an MD failed to provide relief. Already a spa baby who had my favorite masseuse on speed dial, I programmed the chiropractor into the phone after my first adjustment, a moment that solidified the quest for a more creative approach to illness. That pursuit continued here in DC when I fell and injured my knee. A virgin to the needle who was quite curious about multiple punctures, I asked both a yogi and massage therapist that I trusted if they could recommend an acupuncturist. My first visit took me to a small office with minimal furnishings three flights up from DuPont Circle. Feeling a little like the bride of Frankenstein in the making, I was strangely relaxed as Max inserted tiny needles into various points all over my body. That is until he stuck one in my forehead; in subsequent visits, my entire face resembled a mask from any given futuristic movie as we worked on sinus issues. In less than two weeks, knee and nose felt like they had been reborn (I did have to consume what I referred to as the stinky drink twice a day for those two weeks) with no side affects.

For me medicine provided relief when I was on the mend, however it masked the pain. I never knew quite where I was in the healing process, was too delirious to do much more than sleep, and the rebound affects of some medications were worse than the pain they were supposed to relieve. On the other hand, acupuncture eliminates my pain, I can function through the healing process, and though I sometimes experience discomfort as the flow of blocked energy shifts, the relief I crave is a good nights sleep away. I realize acupuncture and other forms of the healing arts are not for everyone but they give me my life back when pain consumes me and pain this time around served as the backdrop for a new approach to an artistic endeavor that I might have missed so I remind you to always…

keep your peepers open!®

ps - the needles used for acupuncture are MUCH smaller than the one in the picture, I just don't have any of them around the house to photograph :)

If you live in the DC area and are curious or in need, try Frank Neely at District Wellness in Washington or Elizabeth Baer at The Still Point in Takoma Park...very different ambiance at each location, practitioners are quite skilled, knowledgeable and easy to talk with however, they each have their own unique approach and specialties (click on orange titles to read more). My body's needs determine where I go but both Frank and Elizabeth can make me a happy girl!

remembrance

2011-07-20T06:05:00.001-04:00

Funerals can be a time of both sorrow and celebration; we feel sad because the person will no longer be a part of our daily human interaction, find joy in the remembrance of a well-lived spirited life. I wake this morning knowing that in a few hours, I will join a church filled with others experiencing both emotions as we honor the passing of a much-loved woman.

Funerals may trigger the desire to sit in reflection, can serve a reminder to live each day grateful for the little things we often take for granted…like that breath you just took.

keep your peepers open!®

altered states

2011-07-17T10:13:00.002-04:00

While standing in line to pay for an iced caramel decaf w/soy, I noticed a simple green linen shift dress that looked cool, crisp and comfy. I complimented the woman wearing it; she responded with a shocked look and a little laugh before admitting that she found it in the back of her closet…she had forgotten she even owned it. “You got something new for free!” I exclaimed. We both chuckled then launched into a conversation about all the things never lost just not remembered in our closets and drawers and how many new looks we could create if we found them again.

My grandmother was famous for making alterations to clothing both new and old. Cutting the sleeves on a blouse or unnecessary straps (in her opinion) on shoes happened without a second thought regardless of when the item was purchased. I inherited that desire to alter things that don’t quite suit me though I am much guiltier of doing it to jewelry than clothing. Several times a year, I go into my stash, nine times out of ten, I pull out my tools and redesign earrings and necklaces creating fresh new pieces to wear. I’m also guilty of transforming newly acquired adornments; take the pair of earrings in the picture. I was immediately attracted to the big dangling copper circles that reflected sun onto my face while strolling through the flea market. The vendor allowed me to try them on, they looked fab, price was great, and with me they came. Whenever I buy jewels, I put them on as soon as I get home if I’m not already wearing them; the triangle piece that originally hung from the bottom of these earrings stabbed me in the neck as the flirted about my neck. Ouch! What to do…I took them from between the copper circle, put a gold bead in their place, looped them onto the ear wire followed by a old textured brass bead and low and behold, a more interesting pair of earrings that spared my neck from being nicked to death.

This past weekend, I figured out a way to combine two stand-alone pieces that I had been admiring for many months but wouldn't buy. I love the antique look of the beaded necklace in the photo but it seemed unfinished because of the one bead that fell between the breastbone that seemed to beg for something more. I like crosses, don’t particularly care for pendants that slip onto a choker length neck wire but the cross had crossed my mind repeatedly since I first saw it at Boveda. On Saturday as I sat chatting with my friend who is the owner of the store, I glanced across the room, saw the necklace and suddenly the two pieces made sense. They just needed to be together…and so it goes.

What are you doing today? Clean out a closet, comb through the drawers, raid your jewelry box, get out some scissors, yield a pair of jewelry pliers and alter the status quo…bet you too will get something new for free if you just…

keep your peepers open!®

affordable luxuries

2011-07-13T06:51:00.000-04:00

Catching up on my reading from a cool perch is a very appealing alternative to being out in the sweltering heat. When I was younger, I devoured books. As I got older, finding time to curl up in a corner and escape got wedged in between the many other things I either had to do or wanted to accomplish. Seems like the hands on the clock are moving much faster now; picking up a book and stopping life for a few hours feels like a luxury. However, it’s one that I can afford. I will indulge! Not just in serious reads but in books that make me smile like Olivia and Winnie the Pooh, which much to my delight is coming to the movies this Friday. The dark cool theater is a very appealing alternative to being out in the sweltering heat and another little affordable luxury. And yes, I will indulge!

Keep the child in you alive and while you’re at it…

keep your peepers open!®

natural expression

2011-07-10T07:41:00.000-04:00

he ©

nectar glistens on the pink blossom

the hummingbird dips a long black beak,

teasing before he delves;

dew dampens all the morning flora
the dragonfly soars down to taste wet drops,
darting inside he pulsates;

peach lies open on the moss blanket

the bee hovers then dives into the sweet,

buried in juice he devours;

honeysuckle perfumes the moist air

the butterfly spreads intoxicated wings,

between the petals he drinks;

and flits away….

keep your peepers open!®

f words

2011-07-06T09:56:00.001-04:00

Summer is all about friends, frolic and food set to a spirited soundtrack. More than any other season, summer for me has a groove that heats up as the thermometer rises. It can change depending on my mood, what I’m doing, the company kept or when introduced to tunes that grab me and take hold. A long time Bobby McFerrin fan, several years ago I purchased Beyond Words; I played it so much I thought the grooves would wear off. Though I have my favorites, from first note to last I enjoy every single piece and rotate it often during the fall and winter. Something about each song, the flow of the sequence generates warmth (the art of knowing what should come after the other is a gift that listeners like me so appreciate!) So when I first listened to VOCAbuLarieS, I couldn’t connect with the disjointed snippets provided on the listening station. Only after a close friend, who is as much a music fanatic as I, ranted and raved did I take a second listen and though still not completely sold bought it. I was so not disappointed as it played through once, twice then a third time, cannot say enough or adequately express how deeply each composition heard in its completion resonated with me. The voices and rhythms rising and falling, emoting and quieting, surging then pulling back; I feel fabulously satiated when music affects me emotionally, spiritually, creatively. Want to be touched? Let VOCAbuLarieS speak to you then keep it in rotation all year long; it truly is one for all seasons.

Summer does have its own fantastic sounds…waves crashing, pool yard splashing, sizzling grills, roller coaster thrills, hammocks rocking, boats docking, lots of laughter, exhausted after. Everybody loves the sunshine boasts a Roy Ayers song from a summer past and Rock Creek Park by the Blackbyrds, well that’s a summer anthem for all time. So go turn on some rockin’ music, get festive and…

keep your peepers open!®

fourth

2011-07-03T08:28:00.001-04:00

Loud booms and a spectacular light show… no it's not the 4th just yet. But the flashing lightening and roaring rolling thunder claps that slapped me out of my sleep made me wonder if the annual exhibition over at the Monument had started a day early! So I'm up sipping a cup of tranquility; the morning show is over leaving behind the quiet of a summer AM rainfall and the anticipation of the real fireworks tomorrow. Happy Fourth!

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in the tower

2011-06-29T05:35:00.001-04:00

“Our life is the creation of our mind.” – Buddha

While roaming through the National Gallery earlier this year, I saw a sign directing visitors to see an exhibit of Nam June Paik’s work. Rather than listing the number for a floor, the sign read In the Tower. I was actually headed out but something about those three words turned me around to investigate. When the enormous doors of the elevator opened at the very top floor of the museum, it was as if we had been transported to another world. I had to adjust my eyes to the darkness that was far from dark once I became acclimated because there across the room stood Buddha in all his light…

The above quote was sent to me recently perhaps as a gentle tap on the shoulder; we have no time to dwell in the towers we construct in our minds. They only exist to hold us hostage as life swirls around us and I don't know about you but I've got alot of living to do! So let down your hair and…

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art about town

2011-06-26T08:25:00.001-04:00

I am so fortunate to have lived and live in a place where art is all about town. Both NYC and DC have a plethora of museums and galleries with every kind of art imaginable on view seven days a week. The great thing about Washington is almost all of the museums are free of charge, not so in New York. But regardless of where you live, art is on display at no cost all around, you just have to open your eyes and mind. For example:

rich patina covers the thick chain on a old fire hydrant that has seen many a rainy day...

...after a rain storm, a beautiful landscape appeared in a puddle....

...and in another body of water, this time from the AM sprinkler, right beneath my feet was the reflection of a poster outside of one of the museums...

....I found more sidewalk art in this mosaic of glass and pebbles...

....and way above my head, a building in progress caught my attention, so I manipulated and cropped the photo...

... an electrical closet had some interesting markings on it along with a touch of nature....

...that I couldn't help but add my own touch to just to see what it looked like...

...and not far away, graffiti that reminded me of the lines and curves in a Chinese word had found its way onto a metal closet below the traffic light...

...shadows from the sun cast the curves of a swooping light against the side of a wooden wall...

....and also created a little shadow play in the leaves and against the smooth edge of curving marble...

...and though I don't like to see trash on the ground, had to smile at the heart art litter...

...there is just so much art to see all about whatever town you live in if you just...

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and the heat goes on

2011-06-22T14:50:00.002-04:00

Summer officially arrived yesterday and boy do I know it! The temperature began to heat up several weeks ago which caught me so off guard. I just wasn’t prepared to wake to 90 degree days in late April and though we’ve had a bit of a reprieve since then, it is way hot again. Around this time every year, the foods I desire change as the heat rises. I’ve always loved summer fruit; the lush variety of colors, textures and tastes pleases the eye and tantalizes the palette. During a cooking demonstration the other day, I had an orgasmic experience as fresh organic watermelon and cantaloupe juices filled my mouth, saturated my throat. Haven’t wanted a juicer in the past, thinking one may find its way to my kitchen very soon! In the meantime, I will be cooling my heat down with refreshing sparkling cucumber water. The first time I drank the non-effervescent kind was at the spa many moons ago. I remember frowning at the tall sweating glass pitcher filled with water, ice cubes and slices of the green vegetable floating around. But once I took a sip, that frown disappeared.

I think I've shared in past blogs how much I crave soft serve ice cream, a.k.a. frozen custard, as the first bead of sweat drips down the side of my face. Only that rich creamy cold treat will do…or an ice cream sandwich that I let sit until the filling is just about to dribble making it easy to lick from around the sides of the cookie. Was it last year that I found that graham cracker and lime ice cream version of the tried and true chocolate and vanilla original?

I love finding a new variation on an old food. When I went grocery shopping this past Sunday, I found Eat Well Enjoy Life hummus made with edamame not chickpeas, sweet yellow peppers, black sesame seeds and ginger with hints of wasabi and tahini that is seriously yummy delicious! I stood at the kitchen counter and almost consumed an entire bag of sweet potato tortilla chips; it was hard to stop skimming one orange chip after another through the green mixture then gobbling it down! This hummus is truly scrumptious and for those who don’t care for chickpeas provides a nice alternative dip for whatever chip is your pleasure. I took a container of it to a pot luck lunch; it was practically inhaled by those around the table. (Note -- The company makes other combinations that use not only edamame but white beans and other ingredients as the base, the Food Should Taste Good chips also come in several savory flavors. I know what I’ll be bringing to barbeques this summer!).

So as the heat goes on, I will spice up the menu with new and different additions to satisfy my taste buds. And on those afternoons when it gets too unbearable, there’s always this to sit down under...

…ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

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dada day

2011-06-19T11:21:00.000-04:00

You don’t have to father a child to be a Father; all who have fathered are not necessarily Fathers. Today we celebrate the men who lovingly parent their offspring, welcome with open arms the children of another, volunteer to mentor young ones they do not know, serve as Godfathers and guardians or simply provide a listening ear and words of wisdom to a friend in need much like a Father would. It gives me great pleasure to know men who fit each of those descriptions, am sure that there are millions out there just like them. Wishing all of you a very Happy Father’s Day. May it be filled with more joy and appreciation than you can imagine!

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water watch

2011-06-15T17:06:00.002-04:00

I remember the first time I went sailing. Gliding across the glimmering surface, I let my hand drop into the peaceful ocean; it created a rippling design that trailed behind the boat and held my attention. Much like when I sit down to collage or go out with the camera, I fell into a meditative state watching the water. Thinking about it now, I would compare what happened before my eyes to conducting a photo shoot when the shutter clicks in rapid succession. The pictures changed from second to second, each with its own unique image but, unlike having a contact sheet to view, these natural photos were momentary, disappearing as quickly as they appeared, never to be seen again. My desire to gaze at new ones draws me to the water’s edge as often as I can get there, truly elated that a business trip allowed me to indulge in a few minutes of water watching this week...and oh, what sparkling creations I beheld.

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gettin' to the greek

2011-06-12T06:45:00.000-04:00

It took me forever to finally try Greek yogurt. Since I have an off and on relationship with all things dairy, I didn’t rush out to sample some after repeatedly hearing it touted by healthy eating, cooking and living magazines and chefs as an “it” food to consume. I don’t know exactly what prompted me to toss a few cartons into my shopping cart one afternoon. Perhaps this persistent heat, which has put a damper on my appetite, pushed me to seek easy eats that don’t require too much fuss, maybe the sweet tooth that I put in check months ago wanted satisfaction. I can’t say for sure but all I know is my first spoonful of thickness felt so smooth and creamy in my mouth that I now feel deprived if I don’t have several cartons of Greek in the fridge! I prefer to jazz mine up with fresh fruit and honey, have eaten it at all hours of the day. My favorite thing to do is add sliced bananas and honey to the plain variety then top it with crushed roasted cashews. I made this one evening when it was too warm and too late for dinner. To my surprise, not only was it satisfying but quite filling in a light sort of way and has become a go to meal on these nights when the thought of food is a not much of a thought as I drag myself out of the furnace!

Yiamas and…

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taking shapes

2011-06-08T05:38:00.000-04:00

June has announced herself with scorching temperatures and glowing sunrises in the District. I keep telling myself that I negotiated the intense heat of the Egyptian sun rather well last year so I should be cool this year. However, I’m not sure there’s much logic in that theory especially since the major difference between there and here is serious humidity! This moist, sticky air is just downright yucky! But with each season comes a new view of all that surrounds me providing a change in subjects for me to capture. When spring arrived, this girl turned her fancy to the birds, bees, flowers, trees and moon up above. With the onset of summer, my eye has begun to roam over manhole covers, odd structures, domes, old lamps, and fixtures on the top of buildings. Shapes and shadows are speaking to me, much like when I was abroad...

I haven’t stopped taking pictures of living things, but recall my visit to Egypt when my focus was on everything but for the most part until we visited the Montaza Gardens where I did manage to take some vegetation. However, as much as I adore flora, the green things that totally grabbed my eye were these huge antique lanterns that waited 'til after dark before they truly came alive.

Keep cool on these sweltering days and as always...

keep your peepers open!®

cuff me

2011-06-05T14:27:00.001-04:00

My mother doesn't understand the concept of seasonal jewelry. I can’t explain it really except to say that certain stones and items resonate more with me at different times of the year. And now that summer has arrived, it’s all about the bangles and cuffs. Though I do wear bracelets when it’s cold, they are usually chain linked with the capacity to rest over my hand comfortably even when I have on something long sleeved. I find it hard to stack on lots of bracelets with a bulky sweater or jacket but on a bare arm, well I just created a wrist Cleopatra would be proud of by mixing real gold bangles with a few faux then tossing in some shiny brass. My arm not only looked glamorously chic but très expensive (and garnered lots of compliments!)

I comb the flea markets to find classy inexpensive treasures, shop the jewelry counters in both department and discount stores as I’ve found treasures in odd places. OMG, I saw a cuff made of horn online at an upscale store priced at over $200; I got two bangles at the outdoor market for $20. True the look is different, but it is just as effective at a fraction of the price... check the African vendors. Ethnic cuffs from Morocco, Tibet and Sierra Leone have made their way into my shopping bag (a couple of them felt like a steal they cost so little!). I lucked up on a set of six silk woven bangles for $50 at CUSP that spice up an outfit all by themselves or mixed in with either gold or silver additions (tip: leave those expensive woven bracelets in the store as fabric does ravel and fray; love mine, will miss them once their season is done but will be fine since I did not drop hundreds for them). I like mixing metals, bone, and woods, alternating chunky with slender, and am finally okay with matte and shiny combinations (it took me a minute with this, but once I did that stack, will never go back).

There is something so feminine about adornments for the arm. I like looking down at them as well as the way they look on my wrist. Not only are they sexy but when more than one is worn, they sing unique melodies when they touch each other, some that I’m happy to report have attracted the opposite sex. Cuffed, bangled or locked, my collection continues to stack up as the perfect compliment in the hot months when some days they, along with a pair of earrings and a ring are the only things I want to put on. ;)

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out of it

2011-06-01T12:06:00.000-04:00

That old hot fresh sun had its way with me! I have no choice but to stay in, cool down and chill out so until we meet again on Sunday...

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dove songs

2011-05-29T12:39:00.002-04:00

I recall reading a passage about not being able to find bliss if you chase it. On my walk this morning, I took a detour from my chosen path to spend time in a paradise below street level that is the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden. I haven’t visited this heavenly spot in over a year, decided to go today to escape the sun.

When my feet touched the walk at the bottom of the stairs, my pace immediately quieted. The soothing coo of doves guided me along until I came to rest in front of the meditation pool where a pleasurable breeze swirled to cool my heated body and kiss away beads of sweat from my upper lip and the hollow between my breasts. Refreshed, I eventually began to move on. As I rounded one of the corners in the garden, there to my delight were several doves. Not only do I love the peace and solitude of strolling among art in a natural setting but also happen to adore doves, finding the sound of their song and devotion to one another to be rather romantic. Stumbling onto their harmonious conclave may not sound like such a big thing to most. But there, at that moment in that place was my bliss.

Let bliss find you, follow where it leads and make sure you…

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now, not later

2011-05-25T19:44:00.000-04:00

The TV was on as background noise but caught my attention when I saw Toni Morrison. She was speaking about how children look to see if their parent’s faces light up when the adult sees them. For some reason the words does your face light up resonated with me perhaps because the grin on the face of a gentleman who came into my life when I lived in NYC let me know that for the first time, I was in love. When I walked into any room to meet him anywhere, he was glowing…and so was I. It was like the world stopped; there is something so wonderful about being noticed by someone you want to notice you. I wonder about that when I am taking pictures.

Though I have taken groups of things in their natural setting, I seem to be drawn to focusing in on one flower, a particular sprig of grass, that solitary knot on a tree. Transfixed, a dialog with not a single word spoken begins between me and whatever I am shooting. It’s as if what’s before me is saying look at me, I’m ready for my close up and make sure you get me right and in my best light if you please. I find that this happens most often when I am shooting flowers. Now I must admit that I’m the one who started this when I began to take pictures of my cut flowers as if they had come to a studio to have their portrait done. Countless angles at various times of the day in front of black, white or other backgrounds over the entire period of time they stood in a vase. They were most cooperative. But being outdoors with flora in their environment, oh please! They beckon to me, primp for the camera, want to be seen, I get set to oblige. Invariably they toss themselves into a breeze as if to say, just kidding; I’m patient though, rewarded with breathtaking results many times over.

The other day as I concentrated on the spiky flower at the top of a long slender stalk, I noticed several ladybugs going about their business in the glints of sun that peeked from above. One of them was lazily sunning. For several minutes, I tried to capture her at her best angle but no matter how I adjusted the zoom, she would not come into focus. Perhaps she did not wish to be noticed since, in all her blurriness, she began to move; my heart sank as I saw my picture crawling away. Until I discovered that she had perched her plump little self at the tiniest tip of the stalk and struck a pose as if to say, "Okay sistah, take your best shot!" And that I did. It was an amazing moment that kept my face lit up long after I had thanked her and we had both gone on about our business.

Everyone wants to be noticed, recognized, in the spotlight at some point in time. Unfortunately, we don’t always know when someone is in need or maybe we’re too conditioned to only take note when things look bright. Think about how quick we are to compliment someone once they lose weight, do something with that strange hair, get that promotion we watched pass over them too many times, or finally pull away from a relationship that we never understood. How we’re ready to jump on the band wagon once the music is swinging or climb onto the boat only when it transforms from a dinghy to a yacht. Why do we wait to open our mouths when the slightest bit of attention paid right now could be the much needed boost to move someone closer to whatever end they seek sooner rather than later?

So say something uplifting now, not later and upon seeing those whom you like or love, be they friend, family, adult, or child tell them you are so glad they are alive without speaking a word. Just let your face do the talking and…

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this magic moment

2011-05-22T16:04:00.002-04:00

I've had to ban myself from taking the camera out on my morning walks; I do more snapping than stepping whenever the Lumix accompanies me. On several occasions during the week, I've lingered so many times that once I finally get home, I’ve had to dash around like a maniac if there is any hope of getting to my office before the clock strikes noon! But each time I left my camera behind, I wanted to cry over the many pictures that will only be filed in my head since I had no other way to record them. This morning I deliberately had the Lumix in tow; I just finished literally weeping like a baby -- once downloaded and enlarged, photo after photo took my breath away. I cannot believe how gorgeous some of the images are, how many surprises showed up in the final frames, how many times I got it in one shot. It was such a magical morning that what I originally wrote for today doesn’t really fit my current state of emotional joy. I’ve decided to post it some other time opting to share a couple of moments from the walk...

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you've got mail

2011-05-18T07:17:00.001-04:00

From: Me
To: Cowgirls
Re: Tin Woman
May 13, 2011 3:40 PM

Goddess help me if I EVAH think I can take time off for an extended period of time from exercising!!! I have been easing back into my morning walks and when I say easing I mean maybe once or twice (or not) a week for the past couple of months. This week, my feet hit the floor then headed out to the pavement every single day but this morning as I eased on down the road for 30 minutes with 30 minutes to go plus it had started to drizzle, my knees and right ankle stiffened up. There I was in mid step when I had to stop. All I could think was -- here stands the tin woman, a stylish cutie who already has a heart necklace to pin on her chest but where is that damn wizard when she needs an oil can!

BTW - I loosened up the joints with a little stretching, kept on going and made it home…will not be missing the AM routine for any length of time ever again…bouncing back this go round is way tougher than the last time I took a break.

As the weather beats a fast track to heat and humidity, I admit that I ventured off the reservation when it comes to food and exercise every so often during my winter hibernation. Though I feel and look younger than I am, the body constantly reminds me that if I want to keep it in sync with feeling and looking youthful, I can’t just sit on the rainbow taking in the view. Deliberate movement at least 5 to 6 days a week is now seriously a must witness the need for lubrication out on the yellow brick road.

My intention to eat healthy and not waste food also took some detours during the colder days as I found myself throwing out things I never ate because somehow, I ended up in the drive-thru instead of the refrigerator…THAT BAD CAR!!! This past weekend, I discovered a pint of blueberries buried behind a bag of lettuce, both on the verge of expiration. Determined to get back on the block, I baked a couple of golden delicious sprinkled with cinnamon, nutmeg and honey and tossed in those little blues. I gasped then had to chuckle at the deep plum colored apple slices that I placed over my Kashi waffles along with a few pecans and a drizzle of honey. They turned out to be a yummy, healthy treat after a walk in the rain -- both a better way to begin the day which leads me this…

From: Me
To: Cowgirls, other friends, family and loves and everyone else for that matter
Re: A Turn on a Phrase
May 18, 2011 6:27AM

Rather than grow old together, let’s grow better together.

And as we do, always…

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ps … a pair of ruby red sequined sneakers are on order in case the oil isn't handy and I need to click my heels to get home!

jones green

2011-05-15T09:58:00.005-04:00

I was recently engaged in a long conversation with someone who is young enough to be my daughter. Though we covered lots of ground, we spent a good deal of time dissecting how I managed through some of the more difficult moments of my past (I refer to them as moments because essentially that’s what they were, just short blips on the life screen, though when I was living them it felt like an eternity before they passed!). As I listened to her unfolding story, I winched a few times. If only we could stop people from walking into the all too familiar messes, traps, ugliness, pain…if only. But one thing I do know is we all have to do it our way in order for the lessons to hopefully be learned. Some of us, and that us includes me, have to repeat a few of the classes, the sting didn’t hurt enough the first time around to keep us from coming back for another spanking. Ouch!!!

Thankfully, I passed enough and have made it to the more seasoned years when it doesn’t take as long to get it or if it does, there is a consciousness about the decision to walk through difficulty; there are wisdom stones on those paths that we innately know need to be collected for the next part of the journey so we go. I’m also at that stage in life when I feel no guilt speaking the word no when needed, can acknowledge my role when things go off track and will apologize if warranted, own up to the fact that I still sulk and pout my lips at times but so what since it doesn’t last for very long, will tell my friends what they need to hear sans the layers of sugar coating and welcome the same from them, know that dwelling on why people do what they do is a serious waste of time, am not concerned with what others think and could care less about what everyone else is doing. Come to think of it, I’ve never really cared all that much about what others were doing, thought should be worn or where the in crowd was going. I remember when I first heard the term non-conformist. It slid over my head and clung to my body like a silk slip, morphed into a second skin that to this day allows me to follow my own mind and heart for better or worse.

What I'm working my way to is an important part of that conversation I had with the person who is like a daughter. It had to do with keeping up with the Jones’s. Simply put, I've had a hard enough time keeping up with me let alone with some folks named Jones. And that Jones of Green Envy dress I mistakenly purchased in a haze of confusion many moons ago? It has been in the back of the closet for a very long time thank goodness but, I will admit that once in a blue moon the haziness drapes itself over me during a weak moment; trying on that garment makes me look small in a way that's far from flattering so back it goes!

Remember -- the grass is always greenest exactly where we stand, weeds and all! Keep your feet firmly planted, wiggle your toes around. If you’re meant to have something go somewhere, you will and it may not be just as you imagined or happen when you deem it so. As for all that glitter, well it’s just shiny stuff so sit still, be patient. The gold will come and while you wait…

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