in the tower

“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…

keep your peepers open!®

art about town

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...

keep your peepers open!®

and the heat goes on

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!

keep your peepers open!®

dada day

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!

keep your peepers open!®

water watch

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.

keep your peepers open!®

gettin' to the greek

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…

keep your peepers open!®

taking shapes

 

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

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. ;)

keep your peepers open!®

out of it

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...

keep your peepers open!®