what a totally unexpected and much appreciated kindness:
a sympathy card in the mail
signed by every person in my vet’s office
after helping my pet to pass on peacefully
on my last trip there.
—
“the whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness
of the interdependence of all these living beings,
which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.”
-thomas merton
In Tokyo, there is an artist’s dream come true: thousands of pigments with names like “Autumn Mystery” and “Luxury Twinkle” line the neat, airy bamboo shelves of a store called Pigment.
Pigment is dry concentrated color dust used to give fabric, ink, plastics, and, of course, paint their hue. By adding a binding agent like oil or glue to the powder, the pigment becomes adhesive. It’s an older style of paint-making as opposed to purchasing paint pre-mixed, but many artists prefer it for its simplicity and versatility. The store also sells other traditional Japanese painting supplies like brushes, papers, frames, natural animal glue, and ink stones.
Pigment the store is just as beautiful as its contents. It was designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma, whose work connects ancient principles of Japanese art and ideology to the modern day. Much like pigment, it’s simple, natural, and basic but elegant too. The store is made almost entirely of bamboo with gently waving lines, lots of open space, and light. The store does ship art supplies ordered online, but Pigment’s physical store and displays are something to behold.
—
‘we all have the same palette of emotional paints
it’s how we pigment them on the canvas of life that dictates our artistry.’
-ged thompson (liverpool poet)
—
credits: atlas obscura, pigment, tokyo
‘help yourself, but please leave bowl. enjoy!’
another friendly neighbor’s offering
left on the steps to their house
discovered while out walking.
—
‘the people who give you their food, give you their heart.’
-cesar chavez
when out walking
it’s so nice to see my friendly neighbors waving hello.
makes me feel at home.
—
‘be nice. the world is a small town.’
-austin kleon
kinders explore light and shadows.
—
‘find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows,
the light, and the dark which that thing provides.’
-junichiro tanizaki
my daughter was given a small box
filled with items
from her great grandfather/great grandmother
on her father’s side.
it contained such an interesting mix
with no one to explain
the meaning
the importance
the story
of the items inside.
some of them were:
a pocket knife,
a key to a city in louisiana,
one heart-shaped earring,
and a piece of paper with
‘hamlet, act 1, scene 3’
handwritten on it.
i wish we knew the story of
why each was significant in their lives.
why was each item worth saving in a special box?
—
‘we all belong to an ancient identity.
stories are the rivers that take us there.’
-frank delaney
“october is the month for painted leaves….
as fruits and leaves and the day itself acquire a bright tint just before they fall,
so the year near its setting.
october is its sunset sky; november the later twilight.’
~henry david thoreau, “Autumnal Tints”
—
image credit: “Autumnal Equinox” by Maggie Vandewalle – TREES
only with good friends
can you pair wine and nachos
then add in a dash of spicy chat.
—
‘life is a nacho. it can be yummy-crunchy or squishy-yucky.
it just depends on how long it takes for you to start eating it.’
— john updike
celebrate national coffee day with a big cup of joe.
i celebrate each and every day
at least once.
—
‘coffee is a language in itself.’
-jackie chan
—
image credit: glam o rama
I didn't have my glasses on.... 