this life

1. Blue-Gray Pumpkins, 2. European Eagle Owl - Black and White, 3. Untitled, 4. Lecidea lapicida 20040404_5469

Aren't grey pumpkins just the cat's pajamas? I'm so glad they exist.

I went down the way to get the mail and the crew moseyed along behind me. The dog sniffed and peed. Little Frankie Valentine squinted up at the rooftops where the crows where having some sort of heated conversation. The Bird smelled the neighbors roses, because she is a girl and this is what girls do.

And then we found the crunchy leafs. And we stomped on them and the sound was delightful. Better even than popping bubble wrap.

There were only bills in the mail.

The bug prevention man told me to watch out for black widows because they come closer to the house when the weather cools.

I fell madly in love with a dress. But the only size left was a size too small, but I bought it anyway. I'm being optimistic. Final sale. No returns.

I have been sharpening lots of pencils in my studio and sometimes, as I'm passing by, I stick my head in the room and breath in that wonderful smell of wood and graphite.

Life is happening. The minutes are adding up. I believe that if I don't enjoy this life I have, it is an insult to God.

On that note, I'd also like to say that I really love orange and grey together. So happy we have those colors aren't you?

sea fairing

The day started as most wonderful days start. We slept in.

A quick trip to Trader Joe's produced a package of havarti, spicy salami, a baguette, soda water and two blue balloons. We made sure to procure a menagerie of the world's best cupcakes from Elizabethan Desserts the night before, so we were ready to roll.

Or row, as it were.

We set sail at half past eleven.

The peanut gallery waved bon voyage.



We nagged the first and second mate to please stay away from the edge over and over, then we gave up. After all, a boy has never died from a little chilly salt water. Live and learn.


Besides, we had cupcakes to eat.



The wind gently coaxed our little vessel through the lapping waves. The sails snapped like sheets on the line. We talked and laughed and licked the frosting from our fingers.

Every once in a long while, a day will come along. The perfect day, spent with just the right people, breathing just the right air, eating just the right things.

A person might only get a handful of these days in their life. Surely they are divvied out sparingly.

Yesterday was one of those days.

I'm thankful for it.

I'll pick a winner for Friday's post tomorrow. Just leave a comment.

"look here" said the llama

I dreamt last night that I attended a very civilized luncheon hosted by a very distinguished llama. We had tomato bisque, sourdough rolls, Vietnamese spring rolls and Valentine's M&M's.

I was wearing a gorgeous chiffon evening gown the color of ripe limes with a large vintage broach, which I remember thinking, was made of real diamonds. I was self conscious that the dress was strapless and my hands fluttered nervously around my décolleté. I was also overly concerned with not spilling any soup on the broach. Obviously, it didn't belong to me.

"Look here," said the llama as he sat back in his seat, tugged on the bottom of his vest and adjusted his monocle. "It seems to me that a young woman like yourself needs only to look around at your splendid life to gain perspective. You seem to forget, dear girl, that you are one of the lucky few to have been born into high society. You have the world at your fingertips. You have only to reach out and grasp. All this moping and carrying on is very unbecoming a person of your position. Would you be so kind as to pass the butter?"

He sliced a roll in half, buttered it and added a happy face made of M&Ms.

I woke up with a sugar hangover and a new perspective. I'm not exactly 'high society', but I am ridiculously blessed in so many ways. I hope that in the future, I can curb any nasty little tantrums before they find their way onto my blog.

Shall we move on and pretend that Saturday never happened? I think the llama would approve.

Tomorrow is the big day! My one year blog celebration! AND I've got a giveaway! Come see what I have in store for all you lovely readers, who, by the way, I count amongst my many blessings.

gratitude

I was complaining to a friend that it seems like all I've heard lately is bad news. I really just want to hear some good news. I was reminded today, as I was cutting roses from my garden, of a poem by my favorite poet.

A Prayer in Spring

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,

The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird

That suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,

The which it is reserved for God above

To sanctify to what far ends He will,

But which it only needs that we fulfil.

-Robert Frost