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

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

{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.)

{a week of} 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

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...

the random thoughts of the last few minutes

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.

a photo list: pink

Photo credits: 1. Green in the pink, 2. Target Tuesday: Pink Glasses, 3. The Bells Are Ringing!, 4. Tea/Coffee and Books..., 5. Lotus Pink & Green, 6. Pomegranate in pink, 7. Yarn Stash:: Malabrigo, 8. vintage pillowcases, 9. Pink tulips, 10. 181/365: Pink and green should never be seen, 11. vintage pink buttons , 12. 182/365: Purple haze, 13. Spools of Pink, 14. one more time, 15. _MG_0039, 16. a pretty pink bellis tuesday !

As a pink hyacinth begins to bloom in the kitchen windowsill of my newly clean and much more organized home, I am thinking about making next week a week of pink. The truth is that my favorite color is blue. But a dash, just a dash of pink makes me very very happy. And don't get me started on pink buttons. But a dash of pink during a time of year that seems to sometimes be steeped in grey? Yes, I think that sounds just about perfect.

Want to join me for a little pink next week?

pieces of this day

nine {with Stefanie Reneé}

The Nine is an interview series with creative folks that began on my blog, Be Present, Be Here, in the Spring of 2009; the interviewees are asked to respond to nine questions in photographs (or video). All the interviews can be found here.

Today's Nine interview is with the creative, beautiful spirit who is Stefanie Reneé. Stef's blog was one of the first I read in the summer of 2005. Her honest outlook and brave truth sharing pushed me to think about starting to share my own words later that year (and I am pretty sure she introduced me to the poetry of Mary Oliver). It was a joy to be able to finally meet her in person at Squam last fall and to shyly share the truth of how she has inspired me. Now, I turn to her book when I need a dose of that brave truth that she shares through her photos and words.

Enjoy this insight into the world of Stefanie Reneé...

*****

Question 1: Who are you?

Question 2: What do you love about where you live?

Question 3: What might your perfect afternoon look like?

Question 4: If you had an hour alone in your studio/creative space, what would you do?

Question 5: Right now, what are some of your favorite things?

Question 6: What foods nourish your soul?

Question 7: When you need to simply take a breath and reground yourself, what do you do?

Question 8: How do you nurture your creative dreams?

Question 9: Does your heart have a secret wish you want to share?

*****

Stefanie Reneé is a photographer, writer, dreamer and an artist in training. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two beautiful, hilarious daughters.

You might find her commuting over the Bay Bridge to her day job, roaming the hills of San Francisco with camera in hand or having dance parties with her kids.  She loves the sound of waves crashing on the beach, sand between her toes, juicy peaches, purple converse all stars, cozy cafes, the sun on her face, gumball machines and creating magic in a tiny corner of her apartment.

Visit her at www.stefanierenee.net