musings

a very long thursday

2012-02-16T20:33:00.000-06:00

it was a long workday
but it started with this beautiful moment
karma just watching me and waiting
to go outside

fleeting snow

2012-02-15T20:48:00.000-06:00

a bit of white greeted yesterday
gone by afternoon

then a bit more today
gone as soon as the sun came out

the warmest winter ever(?)
continues

six courses

2012-02-14T22:38:00.000-06:00

we went to the most romantic place in St Paul
shared the six-course tasting menu
sat by the fire
and drank wonderful wines

hoping your valentines was loving and lovely too!

brown to white

2012-02-13T22:11:00.001-06:00

our landscape went from brown this morning
to barely white this afternoon

but the forecast for warmer weather
means we'll be back to brown soon

tomorrow perhaps!

sunday evening

2012-02-12T21:39:00.004-06:00

a quiet sunday
a little laundry
sorted some mail

dressed up - in a dress!
for a friend's house recital
piano and violin

really lovely
a nice beginning
for a full week ahead

outtakes

2012-02-11T19:21:00.002-06:00

a few outtakes from the week

and karma
of course!!

having fun

2012-02-10T21:39:00.000-06:00

this was the first week of the Slice of Life project
the photography eCourse I'm taking

among other things, we are encouraged to have fun
and enjoy the process of taking and sharing our photos

so here's some of my fun for the week

the course uses the flickr group pool
where we share a few of our photos each day or week

we each get the benefit of others' comments and observations on our photos
and the challenge of commenting in a thoughtful and meaningful way

this support community of eager-to-learn photographers, at all levels of proficiency
is stimulating and very fun!

evening

2012-02-09T21:08:00.000-06:00

what I love about thursday evening is
my weekend begins

after two weeks of seemingly nonstop
reading, writing, editing
this evening was particularly welcome

all the better because our favorite family
was here
practicing the piano
throwing the frisbee

and enjoying tea and cupcakes
simply lovely

the sun

2012-02-08T20:55:00.001-06:00

any day the sun shines brightly in February is a good day
today was one of those lovely sunny days
it wakes me up from my winter hibernation
makes me want to move and dance
and run outside

ah, but I chose to enjoy it from my workstation
aka the chair
it was delightful nonetheless
next sunny day - I'm outside for sure
promise

~ a Dickens quote (from Word-a-Day) ~

Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers
and are famous preservers of youthful looks.

a quiet mind

2012-02-07T20:33:00.002-06:00

restorative yoga this evening
our teacher ended the workshop with this bit of wisdom

a quiet mind
like quiet waters
reflects the world
undistorted
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

early moments of light

2012-02-06T22:12:00.001-06:00

beautiful light on our morning walk
fun playing with how to capture it

those early moments waited while I finished up work
then more play for the day's blog

searching

2012-02-05T21:38:00.001-06:00

karma's searching for something
running up and down the stairs
with her soft woof now and then
she heard something, she hears everything
so she searches but nothing turns up

I think the weather is searching too
can't seem to decide if it's spring or still winter
I suspect winter will return
but for the moment, it seems to be in Rome
and elsewhere

saturday

2012-02-04T20:33:00.000-06:00

morning walk with karma and camera
attempted to shoot the hoar frost
it was beautiful on the trees
but the digital images didn't quite capture the magic

the rest of the day?
laundry
shopping
cooking
just the usual weekend stuff
no magic

friday pizza

2012-02-03T22:36:00.000-06:00

finally
some life in the house today
with our favorite family

picked up the two from school
memories of teaching days
and dropping off my daughter

reading time
movie time
outdoor time to run off energy

parents arrive with yummy pizzas
from our favorite, authentic
certified Neapolitan pizza-maker

we talked ourselves silly
over chocolate brought from Poland
a good start to the weekend

hope you enjoy yours!

my workstation

2012-02-02T23:51:00.000-06:00

barely left my chair today
two agencies decided to toss us a lot of regulations
WHEW!
that was a lot of writing

dazed

2012-02-01T23:25:00.002-06:00

another karma photo ~ after your kind comments ~ no apologies

besides, she looks as dazed as I feel tonight
had planned to finish but that would require three less hours of sleep
so I will push on in the morning

break today
call from my brother
we had some family business to discuss

but then I got to hear about his trip last week to Argentina
with his daughter
who is fluent in Spanish ~ she teaches it

in Argentina, she's taking three hours of Spanish a day
to get the Spanish style and sounds of southern South America
how cool is that?

and then tango lessons
and conversations with those who want to practice english
and she practices spanish

PSSSST: I'm so excited. I was just checking out my flickr account and found they selected a karma photo for the Weekly Challenge on Solitude!

done for the day

2012-01-31T23:55:00.000-06:00

that's it

that's the best I could come up with for a photo

my afternoon snack

oh, but there was a lovely phone call with my mom
we had a nice chat about memories
about her learning to play the Bach inventions
which piano teacher was that?

a bright spot in my very long day on the computer

and there's this pot of chili I threw together
for my dear dear one who is in the misery of a winter cold

camera play

2012-01-30T21:40:00.000-06:00

I worked all day and yet it was a very nice day
started out with a technology glitch
while "they" figured it out

a good friend dropped by
she just retired
great to see her so relaxed
this is good for her

my late afternoon break
I ran outdoors with my camera
tried to capture what little snow we have
and had to shoot the blue-gray sky too

oh, and more fun shots of karma today
couldn't post another karma
[but actually I did - here]

sitting karma

2012-01-29T23:36:00.000-06:00

a variation of karma in the room
I looked up from my computer this morning
there she was

sitting like a little person against the couch
mesmerized by the intensity of the morning sun
I'm always amazed how long she will sit in the sun

even when she starts panting
it seems she needs the light
like the rest of us wintering here

working late again

2012-01-29T00:11:00.001-06:00

a photo for the late hour
one more week
than my life is mine again
can't wait

lovely, lovely, lovely snow

2012-01-27T22:04:00.000-06:00

it snowed today
it's incredible to be late in January
and loving the snow

it was beautiful and very windy
so the big flakes were floating
everywhere

just loved it
then it quit
just as quickly as it started

blue sky

2012-01-26T22:21:00.001-06:00

just capturing some of today's beautiful light

still working

2012-01-25T21:20:00.000-06:00

the sun was out today
but I barely saw it
by the time I remembered to grab my camera
the sunlight was gone

better

2012-01-24T21:17:00.002-06:00

just reporting
better day
still tons of work
but getting there!

indecision

2012-01-23T22:09:00.001-06:00

couldn't decide if I wanted to blog about the beautiful snow today
not a lot
but it was soft and white and sparkly

or about my bad hair day
the cliche for a not-so-good day
but, of course, tomorrow will be better

so I give you both
snow
and bad hair

this guy, by the way, hung by my desk for years
now he greets me every morning in the kitchen
we call him "Fred"

we, my daughter and I, found him on the Mexico border
but I really think he jumped out of Dr Seuss
anyway, my daughter named him Fred right away

just sunday

2012-01-22T20:26:00.000-06:00

good moments - great coffee and daughter chat
the rest - laundry and working

memories

2012-01-21T21:30:00.000-06:00

a celebration of a life today
stories told by family and friends
the most poignant moment
a piece composed and played by his son

his life story evoked memories of my dad
an understanding of people and a love of fixing things
and the chair
of how much my dad loved beautiful wood

a very good snowy day

2012-01-20T22:21:00.000-06:00

today was my favorite kind of snow
soft, gentle, quiet

crisp and gray for our morning walk
sunny and still flakes coming down in the afternoon

lovely day for a cup of tea by the window

doggie in a room

2012-01-19T19:54:00.000-06:00

somewhere, some time ago
there was a photo challenge on the web
of pets in a room

I didn't participate then
but I've attempted several times since to compose
a photo of karma as part of the room

usually I prefer taking close-ups of her
but this was fun during my work break today
while she waited for E to come home

she took up several poses
for me
just as if she had been modeling

pssst, one more pose

yoga, fire, work

2012-01-18T23:15:00.000-06:00

it was a rather ordinary day
yoga to begin
lots of work

but for a few fleeting moments
there was the fire in our neighborhood

really makes one appreciate
public service workers like firefighters

they arrived quickly
drove right up on the lawn
and snuffed it out

taking a break

2012-01-17T22:47:00.000-06:00

monday

2012-01-16T20:41:00.000-06:00

a day for remembrance
reflection
and tea

piano recital

2012-01-15T23:11:00.000-06:00

piano recital day
sheer delight

our star has grown in her playing
and poise since last year

her brother and his friend
were the videographers

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I love that her teacher shows his delight in every student
that half of his students are boys
that his recitals are only one hour long

I love that all of his students play with great confidence
that there's room for improvisation
and all kinds of music

I love that her teacher performed his own piece
a beautiful Rachmaninoff Etude
at the end of the recital

snow

2012-01-14T20:47:00.000-06:00

friday, the 13th

2012-01-13T20:44:00.000-06:00

a sprinkle of snow
a lazy morning

weekly shopping in the afternoon
maybe a movie tonight

lunch break

2012-01-12T23:13:00.000-06:00

grabbed my camera
during my lunch break

just took random photos
kind of liked this one

a work day

2012-01-11T21:39:00.000-06:00

good work
reading, writing
interpreting

an extra fine day and a magical evening

2012-01-10T22:26:00.000-06:00

birthday celebrated
walk along the mississippi
in 50 degree weather in january

dinner at our favorite restaurant
lucia's
a special table in the corner

a full moon to glide us homeward
phone calls from kids, Gkids, and sibs
and a new little table for the new chair

memory

2012-01-09T21:22:00.000-06:00

a bright light went out last night
a family member of a very dear friend

we shared the family cabin
and sometimes family events with he and his wife

they turned sixty together last year
and celebrated joyously

he will be remembered for his zest for life
his humor, his creativity, his humanity

photography as meditation

2012-01-08T19:38:00.001-06:00

in my contemplative mood this weekend
i've been exploring photography on the web

there is lots of inspiration there
sometimes it can be overwhelming

as part of my photo 366 project for 2012
i joined a couple of flickr groups

one of my web wanderings took me to this piece
titled a photographic meditation by darrah parker

darrah talks about how photography allows her to be in the moment
to take a break or to relieve stress

i like her philosophy
so i've signed up for her ecourse ~ the slice of life project

contemplation

2012-01-07T17:42:00.003-06:00

it was a day for contemplation
not sure how that was determined
but that's how it went

the mood of the sky

2012-01-06T18:32:00.000-06:00

when was it ever nearly 50 degrees
in january
in minnesota?

we always talk about the weather in this state
but usually the talk is about its extremes
the really, really cold of winter and the hot, humid days of summer

rarely do we talk about moderate weather
especially not in winter
except for this one

~~~

morning walk with karma
the sky felt moody
so many shades of gray and blue

to the south, it was steely gray with the sun trying to peek through
but not quite succeeding

to the north, there was a rich light blue high in the sky
but below wispy clouds
a gorgeous deep turquoise, more like water than sky

delivery

2012-01-05T23:23:00.000-06:00

the birthday present arrived yesterday
it's the finishing piece
lovingly placed in the middle of his room

no party he says for this upcoming birthday
just the chair he's always wanted
(I added the new rug, having sold the one that wasn't right for the room)

he's pleased
that makes me happy
and karma too

sameness but not

2012-01-04T20:34:00.001-06:00

today was our monthly breakfast
two lawyer friends
and me

we meet at the same place
same time
order the same thing

but that's where the sameness ends
the conversation is always stimulating
this morning it was about

S's holiday fun with family from afar visiting
an impromptu fashion show
created out of wrapping paper and other wrapping throwaways

E's tales of doggie-sitting
and her students latest adventures
her stories are always full of great humor

and of course, my travels
the many things I loved about Poland
and learned about its people

and music and books we're reading
and plays and museum exhibits
all kinds of things, the three of us love

(and that have nothing to do with lawyering)

morning banter

2012-01-03T21:24:00.002-06:00

the conversation is something like this:

so, karma, do you want an egg?
oh, you turned your head away, so you don't want the egg?

you really don't want an egg, do you?
so why do I give you an egg every morning?

[of course, she gets the egg]

a rug and other things

2012-01-02T20:28:00.001-06:00

on these days of long shadows, ice, and short days
storage clean-out
and selling a rug
beakoned - rather successfully, I might add

then a birthday shopping trip
the gift(s) are being delivered on Wednesday
more on that to come

snow, at last

2012-01-01T19:10:00.000-06:00

just before the year officially ended
it started to snow, a beautiful, heavy, wet snow

this morning when I went out with karma
I took photos of what-are-usually everyday scenes of winter
but what has so far this winter been rare

in the pines I tried to capture the blustery wind
something big seems to be blowing in
my safe guess is colder weather - ah, I mean normal winter weather

the sky was a beautiful gray
the moments of daylight now lengthening just a little each day

And with the new year and a new camera, I have challenged myself to a 366 photo project ...hoping you might visit me there from time to time! Many thanks for your lovely visits, comments, and support for my blog this past year.

bonne annee!

2011-12-31T17:51:00.000-06:00

art deco

2011-12-28T13:15:00.001-06:00

In Warsaw, we stayed in a beautiful small hotel that was recently renovated in the art deco style of the 1920-30s. Art deco has not always been a design style I've appreciated but in this setting, it was simple and elegant. Many of the furnishings had been acquired from a variety of sources so each guest room had its own art deco personality. Not until we were waiting for our taxi to the airport, did I realize that the beautiful black lacquered piece in the lobby was a piano! Stunning!

warsaw revisited

2011-12-27T00:15:00.000-06:00

The trip with Nina was incredible, wonderful, and eye-opening. Especially Warsaw. Seeing where Nina grew up and meeting her family and friends made our Warsaw experience far richer than for the usual visitor. But as I have reflected on the experience of Warsaw, it was more profound than the delightful personal one of meeting and talking with Nina's family and friends who live there.

Warsaw is a vibrant and busy city. It appears to have old and modern buildings like other Western European cities but, as you walk around learning the city, you know it was bombed and burned to the ground after the 1944 uprising. And so you wonder and are amazed at every street and square the struggle and the determination that went into rebuilding and recreating this city that was so brutally destroyed. It's the resilience of its people that awed me.

The most moving symbols were the monument to the 1944 uprising, which is in every guidebook, and the contrast of a little known (at least to the guidebooks) trio of statues of women of justice at the entrance to Warsaw's courthouse, just behind the monument. And as we walked along the courthouse wall, there were birds flying above us along the glass wall.

a christmas birthday

2011-12-25T13:58:00.000-06:00

I'm one of those lucky ones whose birthday is Christmas Eve. It's always made the holiday celebrations extra delightful because everything is festive for my birthday, and close family and friends are around to share the day. As has become our tradition, we went out for brunch mid-day before the last of the restaurants closed, then had dinner and birthday cake with family at home in the evening.

Christmas morning was a quiet event this year with the younger generation spread out from Florida to California. E and I shared happy phone calls, a simple breakfast with the most wonderful pears, and exchanged a few simple gifts (a couple came home tucked in our suitcases). Perfect!

We are grateful this day for all our family and friends, and wish you all a most Happy Christmas wherever you might be.

** Photo credits: E, E the younger, C, and moi!

saying good-by to paris

2011-12-23T21:30:00.000-06:00

our last day in paris
we walked the streets

like so many others out that day
bought the last of our christmas presents

the stores and shops were open extra hours
for the holiday shopping

we returned to a favorite cafe for lunch
then joined Nina for dinner

the trip home was a bit of adventure
with the french airport security on strike

long lines, of course
but everyone was surprisingly reasonable

eventually we boarded
and said good-by to a most wonderful, wonderful adventure

thank you Nina!

** street photos by E!

paris sunday morning

2011-12-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

a sunday morning stroll through Jardin du Luxembourg

it's barely a block from our hotel

the sun is out so it's pleasant when not in the still brisk wind

there are joggers of allages running mostly around the edge of the gardens

little sailboats (remotelycontrolled) on the "Big Pond"

tai chi in one corner

a mom playing tag with her two little boys endlessly

(I wonder at her energy, as she does not seem to take a break)

families with strollers, couples - young and old - strolling arm-in-arm

except for the joggers

no one is in a hurry

it's all so lovely

paris at night

2011-12-18T01:00:00.000-06:00

there's a reason paris is known as the city of light
everywhere your eyes wander at night, you see the magic

late in the evening, E and I walked along the river seine to the iconic eiffel
taking in once again this familiar, beloved city

we returned along the streets where we stayed
the first time we came to paris with each other

newly together then
we share many sweet memories along these streets

as we walked, E remembered that the last time we visited, it was the summer solstice
when the city is alive with young and old, making music far into the night

this time, we are close to experiencing the winter solstice (only two days after we depart)
with the weekend's blustery winds and early darkness

`````
postscript: wanting the freedom to walk without a camera dangling from my neck
E took most of these photos

cafe life

2011-12-17T05:19:00.000-06:00

if you asked me to choose between walking the streets of paris and cafe life
i couldn't answer
for me they are intimately intertwined

great conversation with good friends
or spouse or daughter

here with Nina, my very dear friend
as animated here as on her blog

enhanced by a lovely rose
baguette
and the perfect lunch - lentils du pay (of the country - not hot, not cold) with poached egg

and always great people watching
or in this setting, car watching too

paris in the rain

2011-12-16T20:04:00.000-06:00

even in the rain, paris is a feast for the eyes
the umbrellas and beautiful scarves
the shop windows and festive decorations

but we're exhausted tonight
more paris later....

warsaw's lazienki park

2011-12-15T16:19:00.001-06:00

our last day in warsaw
we strolled through lazienki park

amidst this bustling, vibrant city, are the old royal gardens
extensive, wooded, nicely kept in a natural way, but not formal

anticipating lots of brown and gray, the greenery, the berries, the pine boughs covering the rose gardens to protect them from the harsh winter were a surprise

we entered the gardens in the one dedicated to Chopin

the monument is a bit difficult to understand from a photo, but it depicts Chopin sitting under a willow, one hand outstretched, eyes gazing dreamily, sadly (depending upon your interpretation) away from the tree

we followed the path to the summer palace
accompanied by birds and the little red squirrels along the way

on this sunny, but chilly december day, moms and babies, grandmas and babies, dads and babies, old friends, toddlers, young couples, school groups - all were there enjoying this royal legacy

including little "Natasha"
she paused for a moment and looked back at her mom who was calling her
then continued on her way pushing her baby stroller down the path

warsaw

2011-12-14T11:45:00.000-06:00

a walking tour of warsaw is more demanding (or do I mean daunting?) than in krakow
not that the two cities warrant comparison
they are separate personalities to be enjoyed purely for what they each offer

we began with a substantial breakfast
three courses, each artistically presented and totally delicious
fresh fruit, smoked salmon, and oatmeal full of fresh raspberries

Nina, as always, was super prepared with the route to be taken and sights to be seen
and the timing, as well, since she was hosting a large dinner party in the evening for her Polish friends

we walked her old neighborhood, stopping for a photo of Nina in the doorway of her family's post-war flat, a two-room apartment, along her old street runs a shiny new tram, and close by is an entrance to the city's first metro, where even dogs are welcome

as we walked the city, it was difficult to imagine how all of it was reduced to rubble
from the bombing in WWII and how her people completely rebuilt the city, as much as possible,
in the old style, and as quickly as possible, with much of it completed in the first years following the end of the war
even recreating the brick wall and gate to the old city

of course, there were shops along the way to entice us
wooden folk art, leather goods, amber jewelry
and a lovely hidden little shop in which the folk art has been reinterpreted in a modern way

there were bakery stops to sample the Polish favorites
and stands where we purchased a wonderful cup of hot wine
to chase away the chilly air

it all ended in the late afternoon along the royal way
where the pink light of the fading sun
and the festive lights
made warsaw a magical city, risen like a phoenix from its ashes

a krakow morning walk

2011-12-13T03:54:00.000-06:00

our last morning in krakow
the sun blessed us with one more day of her warmth
packing quickly, i dashed out for one more walk
to enjoy krakow's beauty

the christmas markets were just opening
no crowds at this hour
so i was able to enjoy the enticing arrangements of goods for sale
ornaments, more pottery, jewelry, holiday greens

lines of schoolchildren at the market
and in the courtyard of the old university
where we all happened upon the opening of the magic doors
and rotating figures as the clock struck 11

it was a great hour for people watching too
grandmas out with babies in strollers
a spot of snow that seemed like a scene from the highlands
until i realized it was a photo shoot

but my time was short
so it was back to the hotel
to meet up with E and Nina
and our hike to the train station

and on to explore warsaw for the next three days

pani anna's kitchen

2011-12-12T15:02:00.000-06:00

yesterday's hike through the highland woods was magical
fresh snow
brilliant sun
christmas trees along the path
all framed by the tatra mountains

as we followed Nina out of the woods
we entered the world of pani anna
catching so briefly a vanishing way of life

pani anna
[pani is the formal address for a woman]

years of hard work and sadness on her expressive face
exuding warmth when she hugs you
welcoming us - not as strangers but as friends into her kitchen
and giving us gifts from the fullness of her heart

Nina beautifully tells more of our visit

the highlands

2011-12-11T16:35:00.001-06:00

we followed Nina into the highlands of southern poland today
the scenery was magnificent

but the truly memorable momemts
were those spent in the tiny kitchen of an 80-year-old highlander woman
that we had come to visit

more about our visit tomorrow

krakow, how beautiful you are

2011-12-10T15:47:00.001-06:00

we criss-crossed the old historic city today
under brilliant blue skies
the sun kept us warm
as we walked the old cobbled streets and market squares
given over to pedestrians only

beautiful old churches
the palace of the kings that once ruled poland
the palace courtyard where i thought we must be in italy

holiday markets, food stalls, live music
and long lines for beer and mulled wine
filled the large square, just two blocks from our hotel

shopping, chocolates, ornaments
and oh, the beautiful hand-painted pottery
if only i had more room in my suitcase

we feasted on her specialties
perogies and apple cake
beetroot soup and latkes

how fortunate we are to be in krakow with someone who knows her secrets

krakow poland

2011-12-09T19:34:00.001-06:00

three flights, two taxis, and one train later
we arrived in the beautiful city of krakow
too tired to explore
but thrilled with the view from our hotel window

anticipating tomorrow
a long walk with our good friend and guide, Nina
to learn about this city she knows and loves so well

[Nina's post]

stopover in paris

first glimpse of warsaw

the exhilaration of landing in a country for the first time

center of warsaw

on the train to krakow

departure

2011-12-08T19:21:00.001-06:00

first leg to Detroit on time
and meet up with our personal guide
and luxury waiting in the lounge
compliments of our guide

overnight to Paris
then on to our destination

to be revealed soon!

packing

2011-12-07T20:33:00.001-06:00

finally, no more panic
ran out to buy a "new" jacket today
love consignment shops

found just what I needed
for very little plus some low cut boots
that I won't care if they get ruined
now I'm set and ready to go

....once I actually put it all in the suitcase

last light

2011-12-06T21:45:00.001-06:00

today I looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of these gorgeous colors from my treehouse office (as in bedroom)! grabbed the camera and shot several frames...just so I could enjoy the color now as I look at the black windows (no drapes for me - I want the outdoors to always be present)

still pondering the packing but I reorganized it a bit in my mind last night (when I should have been sleeping), tossed out some of the finer things, put in some more practical ones (there's the possibility of a small hike - actually a long hike for me, small for our guide)

maybe tomorrow I'll see how it all actually fits...after I finish up the week's work a day early

panic

2011-12-05T20:01:00.001-06:00

E and I are off on a trip on Thursday, and today I had the usual pre-trip panic. Why is that when it's a trip long planned and long anticipated. He's all packed, of course, and I'm not. That's typical of us.

And today, for some reason, just didn't fit together the way I had hoped it would. Maybe that's because I tried to fit too much in the day and ended up feeling like nothing got done. But I did check off the dentist and a trip to Target.

Breathing deeply and knowing that all will be fine. It always is.

heavy with snow

2011-12-04T19:59:00.001-06:00

awoke this morning to the beautiful sights of fresh snow
karma and I went tromping around in it right away

she wildly distracted from her morning duties
me delighting in the beauty all around

and this might have been the last day
for my hardy little pink snapdragon

just enough snow

2011-12-03T21:40:00.001-06:00

to be lovely

nice to be home
all warm and cozy
on a long slow saturday

just a tiny bit of winter

2011-12-02T18:46:00.001-06:00

the good sunny weather continues
just this tiny sprinkling of snow
to remind us it is now the month of winter

but what really reminds us is the darkness that starts
about 3:30 in the afternoon
(as I noted in my last post) there's almost no afternoon

love reading my blog friends
as the holidays approach

they write of going easy
enjoying the moment
capturing the magic
wonderful antidote to the commercial madness

afternoon, where did you go?

2011-12-01T20:48:00.001-06:00

a lively breakfast with good friends to start the day
after was mostly computer time
with some phone calls now and then

when I looked up
it was dark
completely missed the afternoon

newness

2011-11-30T19:06:00.001-06:00

lots of little newnesses in my life (our lives)
so good for me (us)

new camera
from my wonderful E
we are traveling soon
and he wanted me to learn it
before we go
so sweet

posting at Habit
a favorite blog
truly inspired by the daily challenge
and the supportive group

new way of thinking about eating
Paleo!
yes, it's a fad but there's actually good science behind it
(according to our new nutritionist - she's inspiring)
to overcome cancer (me)
and diabetes (E)

and tomorrow is a new month
I love December
birthday
holidays
gatherings of friends and family

crisp and cold

2011-11-29T20:08:00.001-06:00

it's getting colder for our morning walks
but the early light makes getting out
worth the bundling up
and trampling through the crisp, frosty leaves

and the brilliant blue sky is so gorgeous

it was time

2011-11-28T22:04:00.001-06:00

to admit winter is here, don't you think?

except for the snapdragon, couldn't toss it when it was still blooming!

loving the juniper berries

ready for the snow now

birthday party

2011-11-27T21:26:00.001-06:00

finally celebrated two 20th birthdays today, a bit belatedly
red velvet cake was the request but I could only find cupcakes
well decorated, you will notice

E cooked for us, a nice treat for me
then we watched "Cinderella Man"
before the young people left

this is my favorite kind of day
love having the young energy in the house

in the parking lot

2011-11-26T16:14:00.001-06:00

waiting for our bff to return
what's taking him so long??

[psst: whining accompanies this scene]

thanksgiving

2011-11-25T18:07:00.001-06:00

this was the easiest thanksgiving ever. we just ordered and picked up our meal from the To Go kitchen of a favorite restaurant....fresh, brined turkey, oven-ready....and all the traditional sides....it was so yummy, and no one was exhausted from cooking all day

yes, karma too had her turkey nibbles after waiting patiently

grateful

2011-11-24T12:47:00.001-06:00

for my family
my bff
my home

good food and a good life

a quiet day

2011-11-23T23:14:00.001-06:00

work ended early
so there was space for just enjoying ourselves...quietly

and lunch
before we shopped and picked up our turkey
oven ready

home

2011-11-21T22:06:00.001-06:00

arrived in Mn tonight - temp is 40 - not too bad - but boy did it feel cold!
and I forgot to wear socks - no one wears socks in Fl - tried to buy a pair in the Tampa airport - that was good for a laugh
no photo of the cold and dark that greeted me

but I like this dreamy, blurry one of my mom's pond
that's how it looks to me in the morning before I put my glasses on!

tranquillo

2011-11-20T20:54:00.001-06:00

a day of rest
after our whirlwind activity of yesterday

she was so pleased to have me go to church
and sunday school with her
and it was lovely to be there

the evening's soup was a bit of a flop
but it tasted all right
and it was healthy

flying home tomorrow

WHEW!

2011-11-19T22:47:00.001-06:00

a full day

mom and I
cleaned out closets

trips to goodwill
and recycling

new calendar for 2012
a gelato stop (we couldn't miss that!)

then home to figure out holiday cards
the sale ended tonight

oh, we washed the kitchen floor
cooked and did dishes too

and sorted out the refrigerator Gkid gallery!

gone!

2011-11-18T19:42:00.001-06:00

no more rats!
that made my day

oh and the bonus
it was friday
a day for home stuff

red

2011-11-17T20:39:00.001-06:00

they left this morning
missing them already

but love the quiet
it's always like this

venice avenue

2011-11-16T20:20:00.001-06:00

E departs with karma tomorrow
headed north by car for the long winter ahead
my easy journey by air will be on monday

this was our last afternoon
to enjoy our little "italy" - venice avenue
a light lunch
finished off with gelato

karma got herself twisted up under the table
was given her own dish of water with an ice cube
attracted lots of oohs and aahs

especially fun was the german woman
whose sister has a tt (tibetan terrier)
named elva

tethered

2011-11-15T18:24:00.001-06:00

quiet - almost - work day
except for the rats!

had to escape to the lanai so I couldn't hear them
but then back to the internet connection so I could check in with work

yes, my wifi stopped working
so spoiled, not liking being tethered to the ethernet cord (but only for a couple of days, thankfully)

but it was a gorgeous florida day
with a tiny bit of fall color

beachless

2011-11-14T18:55:00.001-06:00

no beach today
but the memory of it lingers

lots of errands

rats in the attic - no joking
always something that needs to be looked after

finally, the beach

2011-11-13T19:00:00.001-06:00

bright blue sky
brilliant sun

gentle waves
shore birds running in and out

a beach stroll
the morning after the celebration

birthday party

2011-11-12T11:36:00.001-06:00

11.11.11

2011-11-11T22:45:00.001-06:00

what a blast tonight
my mom's 92nd birthday

all her favorite things
family and good friends

dinner of salmon, rice
veggies, salad
white wine

finale a flourless
chocolate torte
made by her oldest granddaughter
and served with
ice cream, of course

and all of us singing to her
to celebrate her achievement
of living her life fully and
joyfully

love you mom!!

the beach

2011-11-08T18:28:00.001-06:00

something's not quite right
third day in florida
still no beach time

maybe tomorrow
or the next day?

ah, but work will fill
the next two days

and then I will be there
early to enjoy the cool and calm
before the sun takes over

fall walk

2011-11-06T00:31:00.000-05:00

another beautiful
sunny
WARM
fall day

lots of color
deer
and red berries

missing

2011-11-04T23:10:00.000-05:00

this sweet little girl
and her bff (mine too)

but tomorrow, we'll
reunite

south of here

simply good

2011-11-03T19:38:00.000-05:00

sun and color
captured my mood
for the day

beginnings

2011-11-02T22:23:00.000-05:00

my third trip to Virginia in six months

a state I've rarely visited before

this trip was to be present

for my daughter's swearing in

as a Virginia lawyer

so to celebrate, her chef husband

prepared this amazing dinner

of what became her favorite Vietnamese dishes

when they traveled there for the month of August

the dinner was awesome

and so was the weekend

And I am so happy for her

now graduated, licensed, and working

two views

2011-10-29T13:16:00.000-05:00

from my living room "office"

from our "treehouse" bedroom

one gorgeous day after another

2011-10-28T00:36:00.000-05:00

have I mentioned the incredible fall we're having?
though cooler now, it's not cold
many of the trees are just getting their fall color
I could spend my days just shooting photos of all the color

enjoy! that's what I'm doing
(between edits)

optimism

2011-10-25T23:31:00.002-05:00

wish I had the optimism of these guys
they just keep on growing
heedless of winter approaching

cheering me on every day

coffee and sun

2011-10-25T01:12:00.004-05:00

all I needed to keep going

just a blur

2011-10-23T23:20:00.001-05:00

today was all a blur
walk with karma
breakfast
edit
eat lunch
edit
answer the phone
edit
let karma out
eat
edit
PB&J
surf the web
check FB, email
blog
night!