it is a day...

As I sit, curled up on the sofa working, I notice the heavy, wet snow plopping onto the roof.

Plop
Thud
Plop

Earlier, I spent a few minutes outside soaking up the sight of this staple from my childhood that rarely visits here. The beauty covers the ground with all the purity that is solid white. The usually tall plants and trees bend beneath the weight of white. The birds flit seeking food that equals warmth; their feet and beaks push aside the stacked up flakes.

It is a day to notice. A day not to let work overwhelm or the mess that is our home overwhelm or the little tugs at wishing things were sometimes different overwhelm.

It is a day to notice the joy that is Millie's determination to sniff every inch of the backyard as she explores all this wet whiteness.

It is a day to sit inside and drink hot cocoa and eat a cupcake and just sit in the quiet and enjoy a little break and notice. Notice feelings and quiet and me.

It is a day to curl up with a patchwork quilt and soft mary jane slipper socks and a cozy sweater; a day to notice the blessing that is being warm.

It is a day to light a candle in the hope for peace and healing for so many.

It is a day to notice the blessings and the bliss.

It is a day to sit in the quiet and breathe and hope.

It is a day to breathe in and notice the feelings, so that when the rain comes and washes it is away, the bliss and the blessings will not be forgotten.

aprons and photos and sun and freezing coldness

taking apron photos outside.
freezing.
modeling my current favorite natasha apron just for fun.
wearing my husband's hat out of need.

yep.
this is me.

(what are you up to?)

five (really) good things

finding a jar of vintage buttons shaped like flowers while stopping at an antique mall i spotted when driving home from portland (especially finding pink vintage buttons that look like flowers...my favorite...though the yellow one above is perfection in vintage button world...at least to me...and that green one is pretty fantastic...and the light blue one is...oh i just love them all).

sitting on the couch with millie curled up against me keeping me warm.

twirling around the house after receiving some exciting news.

continuing to fill up my soul with the blue sky and sunshine we have had for four days in a row.

allowing myself to sit in the quiet and dream about all that the future holds, then taking a deep breath a deciding to just jump in. right now.

please share your five (really) good things.
i dare you.

the only clouds around...{self-portrait challenge}

today, the only clouds that i could see were the ones on my pajamas

blue sky
outside
and inside (me)

celebrating feeling the sun
outside
and inside (me)

breathing in brightness
breathing out hope

today, i feel the joyful reverberations of a slumber party of a weekend full of friendship, laughter, solving a few problems, brainstorming, creating, consuming two super-good snacks here, visits here and here, new jewels, and then an unexpected extra day of time with my brother (and getting to play "i live all by myself in a loft in the pearl" for a few hours).

a weekend that was the deep breath i needed

breathe in blue sky
breathe out compassion

feel the sun inside (me)

(see more self-portrait celebrations here)

planning, listening, and doing some laundry

{planning}
i was looking through some photos on my computer and came across this one of fall in point defiance park and thought it looked like the perfect spot for a picnic. want to join me? wouldn't a big blogger picnic, like a family reunion but without the baggage, be wonderful?!

my mouth has been watering as i read each of the recipes and recommendations you all have been sharing here. i hope you will continue to add other recipes or tips as you think of them. and, i will be sure to report on how things go in the kitchen. i can't wait.

{listening}

the almost like a two-hour lullaby to the self when singing along with these folks playlist

Play Me sung by Neil Diamond
Painting By Chagall sung by The Weepies
Few Days Down sung by Mandy Moore
That's Me sung by Paul Simon
Walking In Memphis sung by Marc Cohn
Magic sung by Bruce Springsteen
Winding Road sung by Bonnie Somerville
Stay sung by Alison Krauss
Wintersong sung by Sarah McLachlan
America sung by Simon & Garfunkel
I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You sung by Colin Hay
Saturn's Light sung by Deb Talan
Songbird sung by Fleetwood Mac
Today sung by Joshua Radin
Caravanserai sung by Loreena McKennitt
milkweed sigh sung by stephanie dosen
All Good Things sung by Mandy Moore
On a Day When the Wind Is Perfect sung by David Wilcox
Let Me Touch You for Awhile sung by Alison Krauss & Union Station
Another Galaxy sung by Paul Simon
World Spins Madly On sung by The Weepies
Breathe Me sung by Sia
The Light Is Always Green sung by The Housemartins
Closer sung by Joshua Radin
This Is Neverland by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek
Forgiven sung by Deb Talan
Virginia Woolf sung by Indigo Girls
My Traveling Star sung by James Taylor
You Decorated My Life sung by Kenny Rogers
Help Me Make It Through The Night sung by Willie Nelson
Only The Lonely sung by Martha Davis/The Motels*

{doing some laundry}

tomorrow i head to portland for the weekend. can't wait! tonight i'm quickly looking through these photos trying to decide what to pack after the laundry is all done...

*the version from the album Clean Modern and Reasonable (you can download it at iTunes for less than the amazon import price). the whole album is pretty fantastic…and I’m only slightly biased because my brother co-produced, recorded, mixed it and played drums and acoustic guitar on it.

a question...or two (for you)

(dreaming of summer at the market)

i sometimes think of questions i would like to ask you. you, the people out there who stop by and read my words and connect with me from your corner of the world.

sometimes the questions are simple like "if you had this friday night to spend all by yourself, what would you do?"
sometimes they are more along the lines of "when does your heart feel at peace? even for just a sliver of time...will you tell me about it?"
sometimes they are just little daily living things like "what is your favorite fruit/veggie juicing combination?"
sometimes they are craft+art related questions like "what's your favorite glue or thread or yarn or crochet pattern or..." and how the list goes on.

i think i am going to start a new little series of blog posts here; posts where i just throw these questions out there in the hopes that you might answer me with your wisdom. maybe you will answer in a comment or an email or even in a blog post...

today, i want to ask one of those little daily living questions.

i want to start cooking more often, but i am looking for quick, healthy meals that fall under categories like:

i probably have most of the ingredients in my cupboard or can make do with what i have
the ingredients can be purchased in a quick trip to the store
it's 4:30 pm and i just realized i need to think of something to make for dinner
this is so damn good that i want to eat it every week even if it isn't as easy as i'd like...it's worth it
one pot meals

do you have any recipes you can share (or link to) that fall into any of these categories? recipes that work for you (and your family) as you try to balance everything and still eat healthy and at home at the table...

thanks,
liz

just me, the rebel, and blue sky (my sacred sunday)

catching my eye

kelly rae's new article in CPS (it's about blogging...check it out my friends!)

all the gorgeous new jewelry at l'essence du monde

the sale linda is having in her shop (the hat in this photo is from her shop - it is my favorite hat right now - every time i wear it, which is every day, someone comments on how great it is...i think i might need to get a second one)

reading the comments of this post over at alicia's...so much goodness in memories there

the matchmaking happening over at tongue and cheek

this post (and magical photo) by miss madelyn (oh and this photo too)

this photo by miss daisies (and the big, wide truth she shares in this post)

rachel's wish tree

"ahead" by kelly (which has actually been on my "love, love, love it" list for months but tonight i just want to hammer the nail it would hang from on a wall in the little room, hang it, and stand back and smile)

the wise words on peace that denise shares here

this painting by miss misty

the 365 project (i'm thinking about it)

all these aprons (i bought a new one today at my favorite antique store...looking at all these makes me realize i need to take some photos of my ever-growing collection)