Saturday
06Feb2010

whispered reminders (to myself)

 

remember, you do not have to know everything in each moment.
you can be still.
you do not have to run ahead.
you can breathe deeply and just stay right where you are.
you choose where to let your mind reside.
you can ask for help.
you can close your eyes until you see only quiet.
it is okay to pause. 
you know what to do.
yes.
you do.
give yourself permission to listen.
give yourself permission to know.
Tuesday
02Feb2010

hello february.

 

You have snuck up on me dear February, and you have come in with the whispers of blue skies in the midst of the drip drip dripping grey. My mind has been swirling so much lately...with so much joy but yet also confusion and hope and fear and longing. This is life. Yes. This is where I am on my path.
  

Today, after sleeping just a few hours last night, the grey threatened to pitch a tent inside me as the longing for a friend here in this town, a quick drive away, and spending time with someone who gets me mingled with the sleepy silly thoughts of someone who needs a nap. But then when Millie insisted we head outside, I noticed you February.
 

I noticed your promise of spring. Yes. Spring always returns. Always. No matter the fears, grief, the road behind. Spring always returns. And even though we live in to a place that entertains grey for a few months of the year, we live in a place where you, February, where you bring hope in the midst of the grey.
 

And hope seems like a pretty good place to pitch a tent these days...
Care to join me?
Sunday
31Jan2010

senses. afternoon exploration.

 {hear}

 

{touch}

 

{taste}

 

{see}

 {smell}

 

 {and know}

Friday
29Jan2010

{a week of} pink: the promise of spring

 

 

 

each day this week i have been breathing in the sweet, strong, specific smell of the hyacinths that bloom on our kitchen windowsill. even though winter and the grey are also a part of each day, this feast of the senses blooming in my home reminds me that in this corner of the world the crocuses try to bloom in february, the days are getting longer, and the cherry tree already has buds in anticipation of its march performance. each day this week (in this week of pink), i have been reminded that spring will return...
Wednesday
27Jan2010

{a week of} pink: the simple things

 

a few of the simple things that made this day brighter...
taking a few moments just for me 
wearing my favorite happy socks and bloomers and even wearing shoes
 

the ritual of making tea 
sitting at the table (without the laptop) with a snack
letting go of keeping my favorite vintage tablecloth for good and using it every day
 

the smell of a warm pumpkin muffin
a dash of homemade whipped cream
a favorite mismatch plate from my college apartment
  

gathering books to inspire and nudge me just a bit
breathing in the quiet
pushing myself to know i am enough

*****
i am playing along with christina today (in my week of pink sort of way). such inspiration in the participants' posts...
Tuesday
26Jan2010

{a week of} pink: two poems (an audio post)

joseph's coat rose

Today, I would like to share two poems that both bring in the image of pink petals. I have shared them in my archives here and here, so today, I want to read them to you. To hear them, just click on "Two Poems" below. And, if you are playing along in this week of pink, please let me know so I can visit you in your corner of the world.


two poems

Monday
25Jan2010

{a week of} pink: a glimpse into the little room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

just having a little fun looking through the lens for a week of pink.

(if you decide to play along, be sure to let me know.)

Sunday
24Jan2010

{a week of} pink

pink.

a few months back, darlene and i were talking about various blog post ideas and i mentioned that i would love to focus on specific colors for a week at a time every now and then as a photography exercise on my blog. and then this weekend, i was thinking that maybe every now and then i would have "a week of...[insert to be determined prompt here]" on be present, be here to push me to post each day during a week and also to find inspiration in a specific prompt or theme. as i write this, i am thinking that maybe some of you out there will stumble upon these "a week of" posts and be inspired to play along every now and then...

this week, as those of us in certain corners of the world see the wintery gray of february looming before us, i think bringing in a little color might brighten things up a bit. last week, i mentioned being inspired by pink (well, a little bundle of goodness is joining us in a few months, so i have it on the brain) and gathered some flickr favorites together in this post, which all leads to me to this: a week of pink.

during the next few days, i will probably focus on photos that capture snippets of this color...photos i will take this week and photos in my archives. but i also think it would be fun to write using "pink" as the prompt or even create something with a little pink (perhaps the paints and a canvas will make an appearance on the kitchen table...).

also, wednesday i will be participating in christina's simple things (though i imagine that my simple things post will be a bit pink inspired). if you aren't familiar with christina's "simple things" posts and invitation to play along, you simply have to find out more on her blog. (and note that christina and her family are going to donate $1 to doctors without borders for each person who participates in "simple things" this wednesday. really, you must join in on the fun.)

if you do decide to play along in this week of pink, through your stories or photos or poems or lists, even if just for one day, please do let me know in the comments.

hope you are breathing deeply in your corner of the world...

see you tomorrow...

blessings,

liz

Saturday
23Jan2010

a (through the lens) walk . along the sound

  

 

 

 

 

this is my in photos answer to the question maddie posed on her blog today (where do you feel most like yourself?)

i would love to know where you have been walking these days and feeling most like you...

Friday
22Jan2010

the random thoughts of the last few minutes

strawberries + cream
strawberries + cream. what more could a girl want really?

 

today has been too quiet. 
i wrote a rambling complaining sort of a paragraph here and deleted it.
i keep humming "hallelujah" after hearing it on the "hope for haiti" special tonight.
sometimes i wish i could flip a switch and cause my mind to simply settle in for a nap.
when the baby moves, sometimes i feel like she is pulling right on my heart.
sometimes i forget i am pregnant and then the baby will move and for split second i wonder why i am having such odd indigestion.
having a clean house is really the best thing ever.
i wish i could wave a magic wand and all would be okay.
there are still some strawberries and cream in the fridge from last night and i might go have some right now.
though i kind of want a chocolate milk shake.
i wish you were here. 
i hope i am going to be a good mom.
i am taking another breath right now.
and another.
i am trusting in what i know.
i am terrified.
i hope we have blue sky again tomorrow and if we do, i promise to leave the house.
millie is just staring at the door waiting for jon to get home.
may (only) sweet dreams visit you (and me) tonight.

 

PS more information about the week of pink (that i mentioned in the previous post) to come this weekend. i am thinking photos, stories, whatever you want to share. will post more thoughts soon.