Profound Discovery 1-4

Profound Discovery # 1

Nothing gets you from where you are, to where you want to be faster than action.
Saying I want to do something, planning to do something, even buying things in preparation to do something far fall and pathetically short of actually doing that something.

Profound Discovery # 2

Consistently perform any action and you will see results.
These results can be positive or negative, depending on the action, but rest assured if you perform something consistently you will see results.

Profound Discovery # 3

Action * Consistency = Change
If you seek change; determine what you want and the best action taken to get there and then perform that action consistently until change occurs. Once change has occurred you will need to consistently perform that action to maintain.

Profound Discovery # 4

How you live is essential to your happiness.
It does not matter how much money you have, where you live, your social standing or marital status. It is how you live, love, laugh, breath, absorb, navigate and exists in the world around you. Ignore the HOW and nothing else will matter.

It's a bird, It's a plane, It's ME!

Don't ask me why, but I have always wanted to go Parasailing... the opportunity arose, and I jumped in with both feet. I suspect if I had stopped to think about it, my little inner voice would have talked me out of it. Instead, I listened harder and I was shocked to hear an even smaller inner voice that I have been ignoring for some time. This voice whispered "you can do anything you set your mind to". So I went Parasailing... IT ROCKS!

The amazing thing about accomplishing something you have always wanted to do, you feel empowered to keep reaching for those dreams. It is like high octane for your self confidence. The trick is to keep trying new things and never let that can do feeling subside... So what is next on my list? Stayed Tuned!

*Note: Any discussion in this post about hearing voices is metaphor. As a general rule of thumb, I do not hear voice!

Tomato Centipede

I love the thought of starting every morning in my garden. In reality, I start most morning cursing the snooze alarm and running for a shower. But this morning, I woke up almost on time and took the time to enjoy a cool morning stroll amongst the weeds, grass and fading flowers that so lovingly encircle our home… A good thing I did, the one little tomato that had escaped my accidental vegetable killing spree ( I forgot to water for a week) was now bursting with tiny delicious jewels.

Share = Good

Surfing the net is like finding money on the street. I am always tickled at the cool things I find and then wonder immediately if anyone else knows they exist. Do I share them? Really not as often as I should, so here for all to see are the Internet finds that are rocking my boat this week.

100 Great Tips to Improve Your Life
http://liferemix.net/100-great-tips-improve-your-life
Number 1 of this list was so brilliant, I can't wait to read the remaining 99.

Frazier and Wing Mobiles
http://frazierandwing.com/mobiles
I love the concept of recycled art, but often feel I would never have it in my home. Until I saw these mobiles. Now I am eagerly awaiting the next rainy day when I can spend 6 hours flipping through and cutting up old magazines to make my own creations. I think I may try some vintage National Geographic. You know the ones with the really cool tint on the pages.

FD's Flickr Toys
http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/
100 more reasons to start uploading to my long neglected Flickr account. (Check out the cool pass I made for North)

Color Hunter
http://www.colorhunter.com/
Color makes me happy. So if you don't yet have a personal color palette, this is the place to go.

Decor8
http://decor8.blogspot.com/
It's like having an incredibly hip cool decorator friend who sends you link, pictures and advice all day long.

Happiness Project
http://www.happiness-project.com/
Not totally sure what to make of this site yet, but one thing for sure, I can't stop reading it.

If that's soup you're cooking it must be fall...

I don't care what the calendar says, what the weather looks like, or how many leaves are on the ground, the moment I start craving soup, it must be fall. And so after two weeks in which we have had Turkey Chili, Tomato Beef Stew and Chicken Soup I now pronounce that Fall is here. "August" you say, mere details... It is Fall.

Last week, I harvested the rest of the onions and despite their petite size, they are delicious and perfect. I have been caramelizing them in butter as a base for each of the soups I have made recently. And although it is a strong flavor, it makes for a warming savory broth, without a having to add too much salt. When it comes to soups, I use vegetables for everything. Carrots minced for sweetness (great in chili), hot pepper and tomatoes for a little extra bite (beef stew) and puréed potatoes to thicken the stews (much tastier than corn starch).

It has been such a treat to have so many fresh vegetables available for cooking. We get a few things from the garden (onions, herbs, tomatoes and cucumbers) but the local fruit stand and grocery store have been stocked with some of the best produce I have seen in years. Happy to report I am definitely getting my 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

Craving Crafts...

Despite my best efforts I caught my partner's summer cold and I am miserable. But to make matters worst, the weather has turned colder (60's) and I feel it in my bones that we are in for an early fall.

Deep breath.... I LOVE FALL... The weather begins to cool after a hot summer and I am practically giddy with anticipation.... Fall is the season for home arts... redecorate the house, prepare for holidays, knit a scarf, sew a hat, cook a stew... I could go on and most likely will in the coming months.

My studio/craft area is still under construction and I am in a mad dash to have it up and ready to go by September 1st. Meanwhile, I am taking classes, to master the many skills that have eluded me... Last week jewelry, next week sewing and the week after knitting.

This year my goal is to make all of my holiday cards and presents, (with the exception of a few things for my sweetie and my family) I have enough yarn, fabric, buttons,beads and assorted dodads to stock my own craft supply store.

In years past I have done scarves and bath salts. My plans for this year blow these old stand bys out of the water... I have page after page of sketches and plans for stuff the likes of which many would easily pay real money for....

But first, I must get better *sniffle* and dig out my craft room..... In the meantime, I am really digging this site and drinking lots of Theraflu.

P-Patch # 2

P-Patches are the community gardens in the Seattle area. I love the concept of a community garden and personally I feel that gardening should be a required course for all children in grade and high school. Gardening teaches compassion for living things and an understanding of how truly precious plants are to our survival.

This summer I have challenged myself to visit and photograph 10 P-Patches. When I walk through one, I am so totally relaxed. I just click (my camera), smell flowers, sigh a lot and breath (very deeply). The people I meet are always extremely friendly and seem to understand the sense of peace I feel. There is no loud music, yelling etc.. just the occasional bark of a dog and the sound of a rake on gravel or peas being picked.

Note: I think it is almost impossible to take a bad picture in a P-Patch... Almost like it is some Digital Camera Bermuda Triangle. So these shots are just a sample of what I saw today.

Heat Induced Mania

Like some flammable gas, heat brings my drama up to all time dangerous levels. As the temperature rises just like water, my little drama molecules begin to speed up banging together and eventually escaping, not as steam, but as projectile drama and heat induced mania. This is exactly what happened tonight...

The first night in a long time I found myself not having to work into mid evening. Not wanting to waste a second but totally agitated by the heat I did the following between the hours of 6-9pm

1. Watched CSI- (seen this one 50 times so it barely held my interests)
2. Yanked out painting supplies and canvases
3. Convinced reluctant partner to join me for a Pollack inspired painting session
4. Painted lovely picture called four seasons- (guess what it is about) hers much more Pollack like than mine
5. Cleaned up supplies and set out paintings to dry
6. Watered garden- (front bed needs to be mulched but I am holding out for cooler weather)
7. Ate dinner- (My wonderful partner made a casserole with chili (homemade chili, rice, salsa, cheese and guacamole) - ate too much...
8. Grabbed magazines and designed Thank you card scrap book project for my grandmother- (must find time to actually make this over the weekend)
9. Vacuumed house (upstairs) loving our new million dollar Oreck (not quite a million, but almost!)
10. Back outside to pick remaining onions and garlic from garden (lord forbid they stay in the ground another second)
11. Impressed the hell out of myself with how lovely garlic(very tiny but edible) and onions look- set them out to cure in the now setting sun
12. Turned on computer- called guy from craigslist on a whim about a 1962 Nash Metropolitan- convinced myself and partner (although she might just be humoring me) this is a great deal.. (yes the middle of a remodel is a perfect time to buy a project car) then proceed to make arrangements to see car, possibly tow and find help to restore it
13. Download and send digital pictures from our weekend trip to Partner's Aunt's Farm (vintage tractor is killer!)
14. Silently berate myself for not getting anything done
    
15. Decide I am exhausted and go off to shower and blog

Did I mention I hate the heat!!!! Got to go, think I can get in a few more things before I loose consciousness.

Garage Sale War Stories

I love stories and stories of garage sale finds are some of my favorites... Check out Antique Road Show Stories for some great inspiring tales.

My Personal Favorite Finds of All Time:

• 1918 Knitting and Crochet book complete with patterns to make for soldiers
• 1950s Knitting Pattern book with amazing hats and sweaters
• Vintage 1950's table cloths in their original packaging
• Box of ladies vintage handkerchiefs for 10 cents each
• A bulldog hat pin 1960's for only 25cents (my sweetie collects them and loves dogs)

Where have I been? Why celebrating ...

Strange how easy it is to lose oneself in a world of expectations and societal norms… My birthday came and went, so disappointed was I with the state of my life, I ate the cake but did not truly celebrate. But the true gift came later… it was not wrapped, or bought or made. It came from experience (age is a blessed thing) and I am quite sure from things my mother tried to tell me (and finally succeeded)…

The true gift was realizing that it is not the why of life, or the what of life, the when of life, the where of life or even the length of life. Rather… it is the how… specifically, how you live…

So… to make up for my sad little birthday, I am celebrating everyday…practice so that next year and the years to follow I can do it right!

Busy, but time enough to stop and smell the roses

A wonderful new site http://www.sk-rt.com/

Julia Child Kicks Ass!!!!!

My lovely partner doesn't just read biographies, she studies people. Rather than just read a single book about a person, she reads a variety of books about the person …biographies , autobiographies, fiction, music, movies, recipes, art work… anything to really get a better sense of the person and a better understanding of their life and work. I used to find it quirky and amusing and just go my own way, but lately I discovered if I go along for the ride it can a mind-blowing learning experience along with just loads of fun.

I am not sure how she got on to Julia. But this journey has included Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell , My Life in France by Julia Child and Appetite for Life by Noel Riley Fitch. Of course we eventually found ourselves watching the original (1962) The French Chef with Julia Child.

Now, I am your normal consumer of food porn. I get my jollies by watching the food network and checking out the centerfold of Bon Appetite. I use only real sea salt. I know the difference between Panko and Pancetta. I own a Kitchen Aid mixer in a trendy color. And my cook book collection is… well let’s just say size does matter and mine is way bigger than yours. I always considered Julia Child an out dated, PBS relic, who just didn’t stand up to the Emerils, Nigellas and Marthas of the world. WRONG!!!!

On her worst day, Julia could cook circles around an entire army of celebrity chefs and make Martha, Nigella, Ina and Rachel cry for their mommies. The woman yields a knife like the Bruce Lee of the culinary world. In one episode she chopped potatoes so fast I was spell bound. She actually tasted the food with her fingers. She uses butter and olive oil, (because FAT is good). She champions carbs (did you know that a cup of potatoes has the same calorie count as an apple) And my favorite… which I always suspected, if you drop something in the kitchen and no one sees it, it didn’t happen. All this of course in an era where tomatoes did not exists out of season, nor oranges. (no oranges… I can’t even fathom a reality without oranges 24/7 and I hate the things), crappy table wine, no artisan cheeses (she uses Swiss for a substitute for everything) and hold on… no microwaves!!! Oh and wax paper… real wax paper. It was like watching MacGyver cook a presidential dinner with only a stick of gum, bobby pin and a pound of carrots… In short, Julia Child is a cooking goddess… I mean THE Cooking Goddess . So do yourself a favor, do the world a favor and watch and worship the original… and in her own words remember… cooking is about “courage” and “not cutting off your fingers” - Bon Appetite-

Awesome Time Waster

You have to try this game. You are Jimmy Olson and your goal is to get a camera shot of Superman... Just try it :-)

Food Porn Tuesday: Asparugus Crunchies

Asparagus is lovely this time of year and over the last few weeks we have enjoyed it in Quiche, plain and my new favorite, Asparagus crunchies (okay this is strictly what I am calling them). I found this recipe at my local grocery store and it tastes as good as it looks!

1. Take the freshest asparagus you can find. Wash and then snap it, fresh asparagus will naturally snap at the point where it is toughest, so no need to chop off the ends. Pat it dry.
2. Whip up 2 to 3 egg whites, enough to dip the asparagus spears. Dip the spears
3. Take Japanese bread crumbs (Panko). The finer the better, if they are too big, just pound them a little with a mallet. The recipe said to add sesame seeds which would be great, but I had none and the recipe came out fine.
4. Dredge dipped spears in the fine bread crumbs and lay them out on a cookie sheet that you have lightly covered with olive oil.
5. Set your oven to a high broil. Place cookie sheet with spears in the oven for 2-4 minutes. Roll them over to the other side and do another 2-4 minutes until they are lightly browned.
6. Serve with a dipping sauce; I used a store bought sauce of Vidalia onions and figs.
7. Enjoy!

So many choices and just one weekend

I am practically giddy about the coming weekend.

Seattle Area Yarn Store Tour
http://www.lystour.com/
20 shops 3 days and all the yarn you can knit... did I mention the free patterns... Last year I only was able to make it to 2 stores.. This year I am shooting for 7.

Seattle Cheese Festival
http://www.seattlecheesefestival.com/
This time all the cheese you can eat... I used to hate cheese until I really tasted the good stuff.

A Wonderful Mother's Day Gift

Mother's day is a little hard for me… My mother passed away several years ago and I feel resentful of the people callously complaining about spending time with their mothers... something I would give anything to have just one more time.

I will be 38 next month and still find myself struggling with whether to have a child adopt or continue on my current path with a loving family made up of a partner and 5 wonderful pets. We are child friendly people with lives very compatible for children; to top it off my partner would love to have children. So what is the problem? Not a problem exactly, more like a hundred little questions, a thousand what ifs.

So mother’s day has become this weird anxious, bitter, sad day… where I question my choices and miss my mom. I was just trying to get through it and then I received a wonderful gift from my partner.

I haven’t started reading it yet, but it is comforting to know that others struggle with these questions as I do…

Red Shafted Flicker

I think birds are totally amazing and I am constantly surprised by what flies by the window. This is a Red Shafted Flicker and he is a woodpecker. I have named him Piglet, although I am sure his real name is much more regal sounding.

Food Porn Tuesday

In honor of this wonderful post by my dear friend suttonhoo and this killer recipe from Anali, today is Food Porn Tuesday.

This recipe was created for my sweetie who wanted pancakes without the hangover. She dubbed them Pan Khakis and we have them at least once a week. The pictures are all mine, I think food porn may be my gift. :-)



Pan Khakis or Cloud Cakes
(The Light Fluffy Almost Flour Free Pancake)
This is a recipe I adapted when we were trying to find a light healthy alternative to carb laden pancakes. They can be eaten savory or sweet and don’t weigh you down or tire you out like normal pancakes.

Ingredients
1 cup cottage cheese (Any curd size- I prefer small)
4 eggs
1/2 cup flour ( this can be any kind of flour I use organic wheat)
6 tbsps butter (melted)

Extra
For sweet ½ to 1 teaspoon of Vanilla
For savory 1 teaspoon fresh chopped herbs or chives

Directions
1. Melt butter
2. In a blender combine cottage cheese, eggs, flour and butter. Add extra ingredient for savory or sweet and then blend until smooth.
3. Heat griddle (I use butter or light olive oil)
4. Pour out small amounts and cook pancakes

Makes 12-15 pancakes depending on size ( I like them small 3 inches across)

To Serve

For Sweet
1½ cups mixed berries sweetened with 2 tablespoons of Real Maple Syrup
Chocolate shavings and whip cream
Fresh fruit

For Savory
A dollop of cream cheese with smoked salmon ,
or fresh salsa

Note: These reheat nicely and will last 5 days in the fridge, I store in container in wax paper.

Blink and it's May

Not sure where the time has gone,but I am still here. Knee deep in dirt and loving every minute. I am searching for ways to reclaim my time, so I have what I need for my favorite activities including Blogging and gardening. Speaking of which, here is one of my favorite plants in the garden, Euphorbia.

Green Days

My plants from Logee's arrived and I am just on cloud nine. Two days and countless hours before I could get my order down to a respectable size (meaning price). I wanted everything, but settled on Giant Papyrus, Passion Flowers(2 types, one is fruiting) and these.

If you decide to order, be prepared things are small and dainty when they arrive, but according to everyone they grow like wildfire and are giants by mid season. I unpacked everything and nestled them in one of the terrariums in my office.

I planned to garden tonight but ended up walking a few doors down to my friends to covet and drool over her lovely front yard. She has a Eucalyptus to die for and tons of lavender. Plus a rose that looks like it is on steroids... *dreamy sigh*

Prior to this, I made an amazing dinner.. as follows:

• Scallops and Prawns with leeks and butter
• Asparagus risotto with spring peas (recipe from here)
• Wild greens salad with strawberries, walnuts and balsamic vinegar

In keeping with our healthy eating, most vegis were organic and portions were tiny (by my calculations) and lovingly arranged on the plate. Tomorrow we are having Yum Yum Turkey Curry ( A Bridget Jones inspired creation) with roasted Cauliflower. Totally loving this healthy eating thing....

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie....Unless you have your camera handy

Cruel, I know, but our little pup Milo is so cute when he sleeps I just can't help but snap a picture. Coincidently, sleeping is the only time he is even remotely well behaved. What can I say, we love the bad ones.

I have never seen this much personality in one dog… perhaps because there are probably 2 or 3 of them in there. My favorite look I have yet to capture on film is when you call him or tell him to get off the couch and he gives you this look, like “Milo isn’t here right now”. Just as quickly the look will disappear and Milo is back… Where he goes and who is looking out from his eyes at that moment I really don’t want to know. Then of course there is the staring thing he has recently combined with a complete lack of personal space. (He likes sit very close to people)

Isn’t love grand? Anatole France said, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”

If you would like to awaken your own soul I recommend Petfinder (this site is currently prohibited in our house). If you want your very own Milo, I recommend searching for pets described as “special” or pets on their third and fourth homes. (At 10 weeks of age we were Milo’s third owners and the people at the pound waived all the fees, because we promised to never return him.)

I really believe that there is no such thing as a bad dog, just good dogs who make bad choices. And no matter what the choice, every creature just wants to be loved and cherished.

Craft + Tech =

Craft + Tech= http://www.creativetechs.com/tips/quicktips_73.html

Cut paste and fold your own Apple accessory....

Political Humor for Your Ipod

Looking for a little fun political humor to grace your MP3 player? Check out the Capitol Steps http://www.capsteps.com/


PS: Awesome Card Generator at http://www.blyberg.net/card-generator/

Best use of an appliance to create a web site

All these years I have been using my appliances to cook on or store food, when I could have been using them to create amazing web sites....
http://noonebelongsheremorethanyou.com/

Everything but the pink flamingos

There is something so amazing about the act of planting. Perhaps it is one of the few chances we have, to give something back to the earth…

Last weekend, I started a vegetable garden; a small part of my larger Peace Garden. I prefer to grow edibles in containers and raised beds, but I will also be using edibles as ornamentals in the front yard. The raised beds will contain a rotating crop of beets, kale, chard, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, carrots, garlic and edamame.

The metal containers are from the local chain hardware store and they are excellent at reflecting light and keeping the soil hot. They will be home for raspberries and strawberries. I am still scouting locations for my tomatoes. Not completely sure which part of the yard gets the longest amount of sun.

I am most excited about the front yard. The color scheme is hot pink, orange and chartreuse. In addition to euphorbia, roses, bamboo, New Zealand flax, Green Envy zinnia, pampas grass, Heuchera, honeysuckle and this really cool shrub with pink tinged leaves, I am also using rhubarb, Swiss chard, runner beans and lettuce.

Am I going a little overboard..? Most definitely…but how often does one get their spouse to agree to a hot pink, orange and chartreuse front yard.

Something Alarming is Happening to Me....

You know how they say big changes start small and then one day you wake up and you are different…? I am afraid it might be true.

So today…

• I started my morning with a flax seed, strawberry yogurt shake
• ate an energy bar before happily tackling my lunch time training session
• did 30 minutes on the treadmill even though I had forgot my IPod and there were no good magazines
• thanked my trainer for a great workout instead of calling her a sadist under my breath
• selected my sandwich at lunch based on the calorie and carbohydrate count
• went to Starbucks and left not with my favorite Frappuccino with extra whip, but with a Venti Passion Fruit Ice Tea without sugar (just a little Splenda)
• worried on the drive back to office that Splenda might be the devil
• left work on time to go to PCC (local food coop)… at the market, I
• Selected organic strawberries over the perfectly good on sale strawberries from Venzuubekpakistan or wherever…
• purchased 9 pounds of organic sweet potatoes for the homemade dog food I make for our dog (he’s allergic to gluten)
• Bought organic fair trade light brown sugar, because “if I am going to eat sugar it is going to be the best!”
• Came home and cooked a vegetarian Mexican casserole with brown rice, sweet potatoes (not just for puppy), corn, salsa, guacamole, organic black beans and cheese… (super amazing and like a million servings of vegetables in every bite)
• enjoyed the meal even though it had no meat or corn syrup
• finished cooking for the night, by making organic blueberry muffin loafs with (the really good fair trade organic sugar) yogurt and assorted healthy stuff

WHO IS THIS PERSON?????

Exercise, organic healthy food… If it weren’t for the fact that I also had an Easter Peep and diet coke I would swear I had been replaced by some pod person…

On the good side in the six weeks I have been exercising, even thought I have only lost 2 pounds, I HAVE reduced the indicator levels for my blood sugar, lowered my blood pressure to normal and can do 30 minute of cardio without puking… Plus I am totally eating better and actually like some of the exercise stuff…

Big changes start small…

Photo Fun

I am having the greatest time with my digital camera. Not sure why I waited so long to get one. This is actually 5 photos laid together to create a panoramic view of my back yard. Consider it a before shot gardening season officially began for me last weekend.

Spring through the window.

Growing a Movement: The Peace Garden

Despite the rain and occasional blasts of cold air, it is quite clear that spring is about to explode all over the PNW. At this point I am pretty sure that the early spring has been brought about by sheer force of will; a collective wish from the thousands of us weary of the winter.

I am fond of planting plants in memory and honor of the people I love. For my mother I plant Lilacs and for my great aunt roses. As an ode to my childhood I plant Lady’s Mantle. (I think it looks like clusters of Chartreuse fairies when it is in bloom and that reminds me of being a little girl). I planted an Olive tree in a pot one year, a horticultural cry for peace. It is not fairing so well in its lonely little pot, so this year I think I might give it company by planting a Peace Garden.

During WWI and WWII Victory Gardens were planted throughout the US and UK as a way to boost the morale of citizens, supplement rationed food stores and take some of the pressure off of food supplies stretched thin by the war effort. But I don’t want to support the war. Don’t get me wrong, I support our troops but want them home rather than fighting and dying.

A Peace Garden is about life. It is about celebrating the things that bring us all together. It is about earth, air, water, food and sun. It is about memories of the past, hopes for the future and the ability to be present in your own environment.

Imagine this…

What if everyone with space (yard, patio or windowsill) planted a Peace Garden?

Tending those gardens would lower their blood pressure and relieve stress. Children who tended these gardens would learn compassion reducing their likelihood for violence as they grow older. The food they grew would be a healthy addition to their diets; extra food (like Zucchini) could be donated to local food banks reducing hunger. Some of the flowers grown in these gardens could be shared with neighbors, strengthening community. Of course Peace Gardens are organic and the greenery would provide an environment for backyard wildlife. Collectively, all the good Karma from these Peace Gardens would elevate humanity to a higher state. And finally Global warming would be completely reversed due to the abundance of new plant life. Okay I am totally reaching here… but it would still be amazing…

Gargoyles

Canadian Geese standing watch like Gargoyles...

My Dad's Gift

Just stumbled across a wonderful post about my Dad on Anali's Blog . Has me wishing I could see my father's exhibit at KALEIDOSCOPE - A Child's Face (Infinitely Varying and Constantly Changing) at JPLicks in Boston. I love living in Seattle, but sometimes I feel like I am missing out on some of the best moments with my family back east.

The thing I love most about my father's portraits is that he is so good at capturing more than just visual information. You look at one of his photos and you can see the personality of the person. You know instantly if they are playful, mischievous, sad or inquisitive.

My father is funny, witty, brilliant but slightly introverted. I think his skill at photography comes from his ability to sit back and observe others and the world. Some people are very good at speaking, others at listening... I feel that my father is a master of observation, something that directly translates into his photography.

High Tech Art

Okay, this is definitely not the best picture, but the idea is so cool I had to share. Saw this at the Seattle Flower Show... This giant Koi is made up of discarded CDs that shimmer just like fish scales... All the containers in this display were shiny new trash cans...

We used trashed cans as containers in front of our old garden store. They were affordable (less than $20 each), highly durable (outside all year long) and stylish (they have a modern and whimsical flair). In fact, we received request for trash cans pots quite often... and it just about killed us to admit we bought them at a chain hardware store.

I have an old magazine clipping that shows an entire vegetable garden designed in trash cans. I love this idea and hope to replicate it to some degree in our new backyard. The cans keep the soil warm and are perfect for tomatoes. Plus if you wrap a thin copper wire around the base you can keep slugs at bay. I am hoping to use medium size cans on either side of our patio filled with

Scarlett Charlotte Chard from Renee's Garden Seeds. It will be decorative and delicious.

My other big idea is to do a flower border totally inspired by coral reefs. I have been toying with this idea for a while. I think so many succulents resemble coral. No stuffy English flower borders for me... I want something other worldly and tropical...

I am just in the sketching phase now, but as soon as I have more of a plan and plant names, I will share...

Peace from the Faucet

"There is peace in water if you listen"

These are not my words, but rather something that popped into my head one day as I sat staring out at the water and missing
my mother who had recently passed away. I have taken the words as a gift, something my mother wanted me to have
in her absence.

The sound of water is something that has always calmed me. Bubbling fountains, running faucets, steady rains and even the sound of pouring tea relax me like few things can...

Several times a day, my dear cat North insists I turn on the faucet so he can drink fresh running water. I have come to look forward to our little ritual for both the pleasure it brings him and the sense of peace it gives me.

Sometimes he knocks the soap in the sink other times he insists I fill the bowl up so he can splash... Then of course there are his daily full body showers... (North is a little odd)

At any rate, I am thankful for the abundance of clean fresh water we have here in Seattle. I am thankful that I have such a crazy cat in my life. And I am thankful for the peace I can fill myself with, simply by turning on a faucet or listening to the rain.

Aqua Boomerang

We are in the midst of a budget remodel of our kitchen. The house has lovely 50's style cabinets in pristine condition and the kitchen features a wonderful open design with room for the cook and seating for 8. Everyone said do Granite... but of course we choose exactly what we wanted. It really wasn't much of a search... Our eyes were both drawn to this amazing pattern, Formica was cool and affordable... and with a name like Aqua Boomerang, our kitchen counters are destined for greatness.

Reading between the lines

Funny I used to thing retro modern houses from the 50's-late 60's were ugly and cold. It was the lines you see, I wanted the curvy softness of the Victorian or Craftsman. Something about this style just crept under my skin... And you know what they say if you fixate on something long enough you either go crazy or you get it. I think I am suffering from a little bit of both, because I am now crazy in love with retro modern. I love the lines... those quirky, creative lines, that grab the eye and chase the light. My weekly fix is at http://www.seattlemodern.com/.

Still Life with Cat

Last week after years of thinking about it, I went and bought a digital camera. I went to 3 big box stores and after receiving the polar opposite of help and customer service, I found myself at a little camera shop in the mall. The gentleman at the counter answered my questions, let me try 17 different cameras and spent well over an hour with me. By night's end, I had purchased this, with all the requisite accessories.

Over the next two days, I took 63 pictures trying every button on the camera I could find. Only two of the pictures were even remotely decent. That has led me to surmise the following:

• This photography stuff is a hell of a lot harder than certain people make it look.
• Light is important... I get it now!
  
• Sleeping cats make the best models
• And just because you find 63 pictures of a sleeping cat and yarn fascinating, does not mean your partner will...
  

The Gift of Good Health

In the midst of all my holiday shopping, it occurred to me that the one thing I really wanted for Christmas was something that only I could give myself. Every year I buy a few presents or two for myself and stick it under the tree, addressing it to me from Santa or to me from the pets. In this way, I am sure to get the exact fit or book title that I want while preserving the spirit of giving. Okay maybe not really, but it works for me.

This year I realized that the only thing I really wanted for myself was good health. You know the kind… height weight proportionate, glowing skin, yoga limbered body, toned muscles, shining eyes and a spring in my step. More than just wanting good health, I wanted to shed all those nasty habits that had lead to my demise (healthwise).

So I made a pledge to give myself the gift of good health, no matter what it took. That pledge took a comfortable place on my list of priorities right between number 4 - organize sock drawer and number 6- win lottery. The higher powers must have thought I needed a little encouragement, because on January 3rd, I developed a sudden case of the flu (at work) that caused me to pass out (at work) and be rushed to the emergency room (from work).

[Side Note Here: My co-workers sent flowers and well wishes, but on a daily basis people eye me like I am Typhoid Mary and ask me how I am doing . Not to mention, that every time I sneeze or cough little bottles of Purell are discreetly whipped out.]

I am doing much better, but apparently [surprise] Flu, dehydration and high blood pressure are a nasty mix. And an even bigger surprise, the 3 sodas I used to drink each day didn’t even count towards the 60-75 ounces of water I was supposed to be drinking.

So the minute I was better, I called the doctor, dentist, therapist, exercise clinic and anyone else I could think of to aid me in my quest. And funny thing, the more I have taken action to do something about my health the better I have started to feel.

Last night I underwent a sleep study to find out why I am so tired all the time. If you enjoy torture, then I highly recommend a sleep study. They place you in a hotel like setting with a giant camera watching your every move and the disembodied voice of a technician monitoring you from another room. Then they strap every electrode they can find to your head, legs, fingers and eyelids. And then they tell you to relax and fall asleep. Yeah right… Of course when you do fall asleep they awaken you to add more electrodes and take readings… TORTURE!!!
Little steps, but in the right direction…

A Multitude of Sins

It has occurred to me, the really organized people may in fact not be so organized, they just have better containers in which to hide their stuff.

Happy Birthday Martin Luther King Jr !!!!

There is a powerful quote on Detritus, that I had never heard before. To this day, my grandmother still tears up for his loss. To me it has always just been history, but lately, I think I understand. Her tears must be similar to the tears I would feel if something were to happen to Obama...(Heaven and Gods forbid) The loss of a future promise, the loss of hope.

Scattered Snow Showers

It is winter in Seattle and like every one here my thoughts have turned to … California, New Mexico, Carolinas, Hawaii, Florida… Pretty much any state I can imagine with a seasonal low of no more than 50 degrees.

Our weather so far has included 10 inches of rain, ice, hail, lightening, falling trees, power outages, snow(we don’t have plows) and biting cold. In a word, Suckage!!!! I am pretty sure that we have angered some higher deity and suspect that only an elected official jumping in a volcano will restore order.(I have a list of officials in mind)

In the midst of all this merriment, the history channel decides to air a selection of shows on disasters to remind us in the Pacific Northwest that if the weather does not get us, the earthquakes and Tsunamis (both of which we are over due) surely will.

In fact I am pretty sure that if it weren’t for the collective amnesia all of us in the PNW experience on the first warm sunny day, Seattle would have been abandoned long ago.

So I wait for the spring to warm the earth and melt away all memory of winter. In the meantime, I drink lots of tea, eat oodles of chocolate(got to keep the serotonins up) and compile my list of officials to sacrifice to the angry winter deities…

I've been away...

"I've been away, far from me, an isle of solitude in a stormy sea."

Signs

I just saw the movie Signs by M. Night Shyamalan on TV. I saw it in the theatres but was not able to get as much of the message, on account that I was scared sh*tless. I love this film...

On the surface, it is this truly believable amazing alien invasion picture, but on a deeper level, truly the whole movie is about having faith. So of course it got me thinking and I realized that faith is a force that exist beyond religion (meaning it does not matter what religion you believe)

... Faith is the energy produced when you believe in something bigger than yourself. It is trusting the universe and believing that you have a place in that universe. The energy generated by faith will light the darkest of times, energize you when you think you can't go another step and guide you to a better future no matter how bleak your present may be.

So if your cup is running a little low do yourself a favor and see this film...

To Craft...

I came to craft fairly late in life. Of course like everyone, I had my share of childhood popsicle stick creations, expressionist playdoh ash trays and macaroni sculpture. And although I am sure I enjoyed all of these projects, none were done for the reasons I craft today.

I came to craft in the weeks following my mother’s death; a beautiful woman with an infectious laugh, kind manner, optimistic outlook and the ability to create anything with barely any resources or supplies. For years I watched her transform; found junk into high end home décor, inexpensive generic clothes into runway fashions and simple everyday items into one of a kind masterpieces. Not exactly your traditional crafter, her tools of choice were a stapler, glue gun and a keen eye for style. When she passed on, the world crashed down around me and everything went dark. Suffice to say , we all take the death of a loved one hard… but I did not want to take it at all. If not for the love of family, friends and an amazing partner, I am not sure where I would be.

In the beginning, the first things to penetrate my darkness were colors. I had taken many of my mother’s things with me and I often fixated on the colors as I stared blankly at a vase, pillow or item of clothing. From there pictures, my mother had hundreds and I thought it important to share them with others. The problem, I didn’t want to part with any of them, and thought it pretty cold to just send my grandmother pages of scanned duplicates.

I found a scrap book and began to create a funny book of pictures and sayings. It took well over 100 hours and with each cut of the scissors, and swipe of the glue, I found myself smiling and laughing. And when I imagined how happy my grandmother would be to receive this, I felt even better.

Over the next 3 years, I fell in love with colors, textures, paper, cloth, yarn and glue. My partner and I opened a store and created a business. I learned to knit. I learned Photoshop. I started wearing bright colors. I took flower arranging classes. And I started to sketch. But most importantly, I found my mother again. She laughed with me while I created, she smiled at me when I wore a new creation, applauded me when I learned a new skill and hugged me when I gave a handmade gift.

We all come to craft for some reason. Maybe it is a desire for some thing we can’t afford a quest for some item that can’t be purchased or a need to work with our hands. Or maybe, like me it is a need to frame our sorrows and loss with a handmade gilded creation, to lift the darkness with a coat of fresh paint, wrap our aching spirits in a knitted shawl, to adorn our souls with buttons and glitter and to not only wear our hearts for all to see, but to also trim them with ribbons

We Never Really Blog Alone...

I love our pets, all 5 of them. HOWEVER one of our dogs has some "strange" habits. He can bark at volumes rarely achieved without a megaphone, he has a strange and unnatural love of pillows, despises humming and sneezing with a passion and thinks that every time he sees you it will be his last.

But the habit that perplexes me the most happens only when I use the computer. He parks himself behind a chair or stack of books and just watches me... Sometimes he will edge quietly closer and closer and when I look up, he is sitting a few feet from me, just starring. Don't get me wrong, he is sweet and affectionate, (especially since the meds have kicked in), it’s just a little unnerving when you are trying to write.

Happy Father's Day

Inspired by the beautiful post on Detritus, here is my own loving post for my Dad...

When I think of my Dad, I think of his sick but amazing sense of humour (which I inherited), his ability to make everything sound fascinating (which sparked my own love of science)and Lamentations Of The Father:
Laws Concerning Food and Drink, and Household Principles by by Ian Frazier (Beautifully performed on this episode of This American Life).

Happy Father's Day

THE 37TH YEAR MANIFESTO

THE 37TH YEAR MANIFESTO


At some point in our lives we realize we have very little control of the world around us, but total control of how we interact with that world. If you are lucky, that realization comes at a time in your life, when you can make the most of it. I have been blessed with such luck.

There is a great saying, “That life may not be the party you wished for, but while you are here you might as well dance”. So, the thing we all must determine is what type of dance we will dance. Will it be a sedate and restrained two step keeping time with the popular beat? Or will we throw our hands in the air; spin, twirl and move with ultimate abandonment to a song we feel and hear. In this my 37th year, I choose the latter dance. I choose jubilation instead of sadness, zest instead of indifference, and celebration instead of regret. I choose to dance like I am a child, no one is watching and every song I hear is my favorite.

To my past… triumphs, mistakes, losses, joys and pains, I have nothing but gratitude; because regardless of where I could be without them, I would not be here. To the ones I love but at the moment can’t reach, know that you share my journey and are with me every step of the way.

This year I promise:

• To erase the word “can’t” from my vocabulary


• To rejoice in the simple pleasures of everyday things and sensations


• To savor every bite of food and eat what I love, not just what I crave


• To never go a day without gazing at the sky


• To acknowledge the real severity of every situation and act accordingly


• To remember that with time & attention my own life is more exciting than anything on TV


• To secure my own air mask before helping those around me


• To drink water like a fish, stretch like a cat and sleep like a baby


• To not give apologies unless they are requested or warranted


• To remember that the best things in life aren’t on cable or on sale


• To practice love as a verb


• To share my gratitude and happiness with the universe in whatever way feels right

Stop me before I watch again....

Yes!!!! I am addicted... I watch at least 5 episodes per week which is an improvement over my 10 show per week habit I developed last winter. What am I talking about?

Confession Time: Yoga Will Change My Life

You ever just know that something will have a profound effect on your life. You sense it, feel it... that thing pops up all the time and your sub conscious just knows it has an important meaning for you.

Okay, so here is the thing. At my deepest core, I KNOW that Yoga will have a great and positive impact on my life. This has nothing to do with anything I have read or seen on TV, I just know it. A strong unrelenting sense... an understanding that if I follow this path (take up Yoga) good things will happen. "So", you ask "do I practice Yoga?"
I am sorry to say, but the answer is no. When the signs would pop up, or I felt strongly pulled towards it, I would ignore it or find an excuse why I could not possibly take up Yoga.

But now... I feel myself once again strongly drawn towards Yoga... and that little sense of mine is telling me this is the last chance. "Ignore this at your peril" my little voice says "This is your last chance to take this particular road to health". So I am relenting and embracing Yoga as my path back to health.

From how I understand it, I live mostly in my head and my body has become this cranky chauffer that just carries my thoughts around. Friends tell me that Yoga will help me to unite the two (body and mind) and learn to live in the present.

Wish me luck....

Becoming Your Own Media Mogul

Who says you need the backing of a network to become a media mogul. I just got turned on to Pink of Perfection from today's post on http://whipup.net/.

My New Addiction

Help, I am stuck on http://www.youtube.com/and I can't look away... Damn!!!! There is some serious and scary talent out there.

More Proof of the Power of Pink

This song by Pink is beautiful and powerful. A fitting anthem for scary times.

Quelle belle langue

French is such a lovely language. Aside from ordering coffee (café svp) I don't speak it yet, but plan to learn more sometime soon. Imagine knowing how to speak it, but being forbidden to do so.... Last week's nytimes article a constant reminder that discrimination knows no color, age, shape, size, sense or reason.

Pink "I"

For a long time the colorpink was a my secret joy, a color I loved but would never wear or embrace for fear that others would find my love of it proof that I was not to be taken seriously.

Thanks to various pink colored incidents and the words of those wiser than me, I have learned to embrace pink a color of soft quiet power. Pink, the red of passion tinged with the white of innocents.. what a lovely blend... Need a dose?

Art Lover

There is something about paint on canvas, color calling forth an emotion, form evoking memories.. Here is a great site to dabble a bit, without the mess... Try it, you'll like it. http://www.jacksonpollock.org/

The Link Less Clicked..

My apologies to Mr.Frost, but ....

Two links dangled on the web and I..
took the one less clicked
and this has made all the difference..

It amazes me how a click of a mouse can lead me down a hidden path dotted at every spot with delightful sites I never knew existed. And who gets the blame for my delightful hour long jaunt down procrastination lane??? Why Suttonhoo. So in the interest of fair play I am here to return the favor...

So here in exact order is an hours worth of procrastination FUN!

1. It started with a harmless email.. "thought you would like this and all". Of course on my end it was love at first sight http://decor8.blogspot.com/



2. A click away and I am off again.. Buttons seems to be a theme this week http://atelier455.com/


3. Then tucked away at the bottom of the page, I spied


4. And like a dieter in the candy aisle, I was off on a blogging binge ...http://www.iheartpaper.blogspot.com/


5. Just one more... the dogs don't really need to eat http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/


6. Must... *sigh*.. #Gasp# tear myself away.. !arghhh the blogs are too strong http://www.designsponge.blogspot.com/


7. Just one more.. I will quit on Monday I swear... well maybe not Monday http://dailypoetics.typepad.com/photos/business_cards_and_other_/index.html


8. *help* http://printpattern.blogspot.com/


9. That can't be the time? http://www.designwritingresearch.org

And... finally I am free....

Enjoy!

Simply Amazing

One thing I love is taking simple things and using them in a completely different way. On a recent afternoon trek to Bainbridge Island to visit Churchmouse Yarn and Tea, I came across an amazing fabric store, Esther's Fabrics. It was there I saw this button chandelier created by a customer. I looooooove buttons and constantly wonder how to display these little gems without destroying them...

Buttons more precious than crystal. I love it!!! My little idea hamster is spinning... and I am certain to be hunting the library for books on chandeliers.

The Gift Year: Mad Ramblings of a 36 Year Old

At some point in the last three years, I convinced myself I was a year older. I am sure it started with just rounding up a year when my birthday was only days away and then forgetting I had rounded it up and eventually, I and everyone else thought I was a year older than I really am... The benefit.. .I have an extra year.

Next month I turn 37, meaning that I am 36 now.. this is a big surprise to me, because for the last year I was totally sure that I was 37 turning 38.

A gift year... the possibilites seem endless, what do you do with a year you thought you had already lived????

wonder.

Where has April gone? More importantly where have I been? April has been this amazing month of passage for me. Passage from one career to another. Passage from safety and security to the unknown. Passage from a stagnant reality to a dream filled future.

Amidst all this passage, I made a wonderful discovery... Mindfulness, basically being in the present moment. (Better definition) When I was in college, I would often go to this amazing arboretum by my dorm and spend an hour or so walking around and looking at the trees. I would always end up at the stream watching herons with their slow dance or leaves floating and dancing on the water. I found so much peace there.. In fact I am sure this twice weekly habit was responsible for me surviving grad school with a full time job. At any rate, I was sure the magic was in the place, not in my actions. Then lo and behold while reading a blog(of course), I realize that the peace I experienced was from mindfulness... something I can do anytime and where.

I immediately set out to do 10 minutes a day.. Which I have revised to 5 minutes a day.. (Hard for me to sit still that long) I hope to work it up to longer time.. but so far I have discovered it is not the amount of time but the act. In short, mindfulness is like the Buddhist form of natural Prozac or Xanax.

I breathe, I sit, I am still, I see, I hear, I breathe, no judgment, I just am.... and for however long I do it, I am good enough.. stress free, judgment free and perfect..

Food as Art

There is something amazing about the fresh taste, scent and texture of simple dishes. So many dishes require items found only in catalogs or the "expensive" aisle of your grocery store and quite frankly don't live up to expectations.

I love simple dishes with basic ingredients I have on hand or can purchase within my food budget. Yesterday we set off in search of a coop owned grocery store rumored to be south of our home. Like some juicy gossip... Friends whispered to me how reasonable the prices and how amazing the meat selections. At some point in these gossip sessions, I should have gotten the address... Because as fate would have it we never found the place. Instead desperate for a new culinary experience we ended up in a large Asian grocery store. Taking home exotic snacks and some lovely green beans.

Tonight I will be cooking something warm and comforting for a friend who lost her mom. My mom was believer in the healing power of a well cooked casserole and I carry on her beliefs. The secret to a good comforting casserole is to have all the flavors blend into something soft, savory and soothing. Casseroles should be served very very warm and the texture should be even throughout with no strange crunchy things. My friend is a vegetarian with a wheat allergy, so this casserole contains cauliflower, broccoli, carrots and brown rice baked in a simple cheese sauce. I carmelize the carrots with a small bit of sweet onion and add a dash of cinnamon to the cauliflower.. Some how it all works and the result is an edible equivalent of a cleansing nap.

Currently for my own palate, I am on the hunt for sharp sweet fresh tastes to herald the approaching spring... Luckily I found this recipe for Asparagus Risotto with Poached Egg(click and scroll) on my favorite food porn site, delicious days...(by the way the whole point of this post was to share this recipe)