secrets

I found myself at the same iris two consecutive days, sunshiny bright on the first, overcast clouds on the second. I found myself having a Pat Metheny marathon, noting two, well maybe three favorite CD’s as I edited the iris collection of shots from both days, light rain falling in the background. Note to self -- as Still Life Talking played and vocalists on Letter From Home sang in foreign tongues with searing passion, my still life’s kept speaking from the same mouth just with a different tongue as their look altered with my touch, telling theirs and my Secret Stories.

The pace of the music found its way into the photos, shades and colors shifting depending on how fast or slow the melody unfolded. Black and white pictures, shadowed in secrets of their own left to the viewer to detail and discern...

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a more than passing thought...

Remember to take the time to celebrate fully what is

as it happens instead of focusing on what is not. - TSL

So often, when something good happens we barely take the time to acknowledge the immediate victory before we’re on to bigger, better, more. If others are involved, the message, though unintentional, may then make it seem like the good just wasn’t quite good enough.

As we go about the business of getting things done, today and everyday, let’s truly celebrate every victory, both small and large with enthusiasm and gratitude and surely more will come in time.

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singles by simone

Just when I think I have heard and have everything by Nina Simone, I am pleasantly surprised. A Single Woman has some tracks I’ve heard though on this CD they sound different. I noted the orchestration in a few, did a little digging and discovered that each of these single songs were recorded later in her career. That said, I will never stop being enamored with the lushness of Nina, felt touched down deep on my first listen through the entire collection. “I live alone,” are the first three words of the first stanza one hears floating out with a resolution that jabbed my side, stirred my soul. She then starts out on a journey to find herself, find new loves in Lonesome Cities but remembers that it hasn’t all been bad as she delivers in quiet defiance Love’s Been Good to Me. If I Should Lose You, also found on older albums, has a new sadness, worry perhaps about one who she can’t get out of her heart, rolling over the strings and horns. I had to look up what Il N'Y a Pas d'Amour Heureux meant, it mentioned how love can bruise which I interpret as hurt. Just Say I Love Him, the message to that one who slipped through the grasp who still is the one wanted. And then she rocks through The More I See You to tell that him that yes indeed he is the one and the final declaration delivered in a peppy, hopeful swinging short tune…Marry Me!

I just loved how this CD resonated with me. It tells the collective story of so many women I know at this moment in our lives -- single women on new roads with lots of seriously earned knowledge tucked into every crevice of our minds, bodies and souls, hearts open to happily give to only one, maybe from our past or a love to come. Thanks Nina for singing our songs simply, beautifully. Hey single guys…

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spring affair

I don’t remember East Coast temperatures ever reaching into the 80’s in March. Because the weather is off, the flowers are blossoming early. Right now, I am having the most delicious pre-spring affair with cut tulips that have such a soft delicate scent, kind of like a sweet little baby…

…you just want to bury your nose in the folds and breathe in deeply.

Here’s hoping for lots more blooms to love when spring officially makes her entrance. As we await the arrival, be sure to…

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ps -- if you’re feeling a little nostalgic and want to add another layer to the season, give in to the sounds of Donna Summer's tribute to the time of the year when hopefully you'll never lose the desire for something new...

point pleasure

My Saturday was most pleasant. I had many errands to run but somewhere in the midst of movement, I had a spark of spontaneity that changed the course of my day. I found myself in the home of a long time friend that I spend so little time with; it’s nice to be around those who know us so well that no matter when we last spoke, we pick up with conversation like we just hung up the phone. After a few hours of yak and hilarity accompanied by crisp bubbly Prosecco and serious admiration for the design renovations and art selections that make his space both inviting and functional, we went in search of tasty morsels to satisfy famished paletes.

What a gorgeous afternoon it was! Spectacular sun, fresh air with a twist of cool-warmth, friendly neighbors with sincere greetings, flowers in full bloom so early in the year and thankfully, Lumi was in my bag…

a quiet peek from the front yard…

….walking revealed bright red tulips with glistening petals…

….even the restaurant was a glow…

What a great day! Not only did I complete many tasks (which by the way centered around art and jewelry so I really should refer to them as pleasure points) but put into practice a better way to handle getting together with people…just ask him how many dates we put on the calendar that I cancelled!

All of you folks who have yet to see me -- hold on, I’m coming! So…

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alieNme

There are those days when I feel like an alien from beyond has inhabited my body...today is one of them.

Perhaps I’ll be back to me by Sunday but if not…

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play in the water

When I need a break, I sometimes resort to my paint box to play. Watercolors allow me to be messy or disciplined with my brush strokes depending on just how much liquid I add to each hard oval that is waiting to come alive.

No matter what I create, I always feel soothed after I swish, blot, and/or stroke across a white piece of paper since I’m never wedded to a specific outcome. And on the days when I take a watercolor time out, I also create “green” art…

Heading out to the spa so my tootsies can have a little soothing water play of their own so hope that as you go about your day, you’ll remember to…

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