a beautiful morning spent paddling in the detroit canals and on the river
not long after
we began this perfect day
it looked as though we’d been traversing the atlantic for weeks
having weathered the storms, sea, sharks, pirates, and the slightly bigger boats
catching rainwater in our hoods
eating our last pack of dry ramen
thanks, for the adventure, friends
best day ever!
‘i’m afraid i’m an incorrigible life-lover, life-wonderer, and adventurer.’
-edith wharton
—
—
source credits: gary larson image, university of northampton, vegnews.com, interesting facts
walking downtown each day
passing by this house/garden
that seems to come into being
overnight
yet
vine
by
vine
and
stem
by
stem
with
sweat
and
time
and
sun
and
rain
and
soil
and
wind
and
toil
and
finally
a lot of
pure love
then one day
i look way up
see shining giants
as big as the house
as bright as the sun
stand proudly in front
this friendly gentleman
has found his home in his garden
has found his joy in this bright beauty
has found delight in sharing it all with the world.
“the flower that follows the sun does so even in cloudy days.”
– robert leighton
i absolutely love
that when this sidewalk was created
someone noticed the majestic tree
growing for many years
beautiful in its natural place
respected it
and cared enough
to create a sidewalk that curved around it
rather than taking the tree out
to match the straight path that was planned.
—
‘in life, as in art, the beautiful moves in curves.’
*edward g. bulwer-lytton
–
*Edward George Earle Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803-1873) was a British politician, poet, and critic, chiefly remembered, however, as a prolific novelist.
i’ve recently seen not one, but two, outstanding cobbler shops
one in portugal
a combo cobbler shop and bar
and this one in my town
bursting with creativity
a good cobbler is a treasure
both an artist and a craftsman.
—
“i think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we’re supposed to make. we waste so much time making decisions based on someone else’s idea of our happiness – what will make you a good citizen or a good wife or daughter or actress. nobody says, ‘just be happy – go be a cobbler or go live with goats.’”
-sandra bullock
day one
of my return to healthy habits
slipped a pan of veggies
into the oven
got involved in a project
over-roasted them a bit
is ‘char’ considered fiber?
—
‘food over flame burns, food over heat cooks.’
-alfred the great
on labor day.
—
“take rest. a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”
— ovid
—
art credit: whispers of the countryside, david dockery, watercolor
at the lake with friends
swimming, floating, slow boating, lolling around
we encounter this merry band on shore
you never know who you will run across
when out to sea
best to make quick friends of them.
—
‘the circus arrives without warning.’
-erin morgenstern
—
irish hills, michigan, usa – summer 2024
(not me, or my hair stylist, but similar to our interaction)
—
while getting my hair cut
i had a great conversation
with my stylist
who is 20 something-ish
while i am at least 20 x 3-ish
we shared our stories
she has not had an easy life
one of four children
raised by a single mother
who always worked hard to provide for them
my stylist also worked hard
got her social work degree
wants to go to grad school
before she practices her craft
lives with her loving and supportive boyfriend
yet understands
because of how she grew up
that you always need
to be able to provide for yourself
no matter what
she learned to do hair as a back-up skill
to use as needed
but her real gift
was her kindness and the way she interacted
as a listener, without judgment
in telling her own story
with understanding and honesty
obvious compassion
life wisdom beyond her age
lots of laughter, a few tears, and happy smiles later
i had the benefit of a great haircut and therapy at the same time
she will be brilliant in what she does after grad school
and may not realize that she is already a full practitioner.
—
“the kindest people do not just exist —
they choose to soften where circumstance has tried to harden them,
they choose to believe in goodness,
because they have seen firsthand why compassion is so necessary.”
– bianc sparacino
—
image credit: google images
Almost Evening by Japanese artist, Kaoru Yamada
—
while the early morning hours are my favorite time of day
the change to evening holds its own special magic
as the day folds into itself once again.
—
‘the evening had turned sweet and blue.’
-alice hoffman
I didn't have my glasses on.... 