I bought these cloud rainboots on Saturday at the thrift shop ~ trust me, as soon as I spotted them it was love. Even though it was a very hot sunny day I simply had to wear them ~ along with my lime green stockings. There is an art to living cheerfully ~ who needs the rain anyway? I think they are ‘seaboots.
Speaking of clouds have you ever seen the image called ‘cloudcatcher’ by Shana and Robert ParkeHarrison? I adore the series they created entitle ‘the architect’s brother’ ~ so imaginative and compelling, you must have a peek.

The other evening I went down to the beach to make a little film (which is really lovely but the wind was making a terrible noise throughout almost drowning out the sound of the waves rolling in so I have to put some music on the track instead) and it was such a gorgeous evening ~ a perfect Indian summer with the sun setting in a soft blushed pink glow. Anyway I met some friends for a drink and we were sitting on a terrace discussing ‘DESTINY’ which is sure to be a tangled discussion with everyone clamoring to say something they are SURE of. And as I listened it occurred  to me that I have lived with one eye to fate and another to chance. Which is by no means a rarefied idea but I think is quite observant of me. I will say this ~ there is nothing lovelier than sitting on a terrace with the sun setting cheerfully in front of you listening to your friends chatter away sharing a bottle red wine.

It has been a beautiful week of writing as well. I wrote an upcoming article for Wishstudio’s ‘wishmama’ column ~ lots of terrible poetry (that made me feel quite happy nonetheless) and a segment for my new ‘Bones of a Poet Yes!” course starting in October. Soon I will introducing my third e~course “The art of living cheerfully’ which is also the title of my book so this one has me bursting with happiness:)

reading
listening to...(I am just loving Mr Nat King Cole lately ~ he surely is ‘Mr Cheerful)
and if you love clocks (I prefer to ignore them whenever possible but these are rather sweet)
moleskine love

aaaaaaand the return of the four!

photo of Maddie in her most beautiful seaboots by Tess Herzog

‘I imagine that yes is the only living thing.’~ ee cummings ~

Today I said yes! to singing along to my  vinyl records, pumpkin spice cookies, a walk on the beach collecting sea glass and heart shaped stones, reading on the front porch barefoot in the sunshine, fresh new journals for tumbling thoughts inked out in jewel toned markers, exploring the limitless expanse of the human heart, and philosophical chattiness with my girlfriend on the phone…I said yes! to this extraordinary life that is mine and mine alone, and the intimate journey of being true to myself…I said yes! to a boiled egg in a vintage eggcup with buttered toast and tea, and I said yes! to my brand new ‘Bones of poet e~course’ which you can read all about here:)

what have you said yes to?

~ or what would you like to say yes to?

This morning I awoke to a soft breezy sea~scented day, hopped on my bicycle and peddled up to a local cafe for coffee and almond croissants to do a little writing. Fall is tiptoeing into the year wearing a crimson beret and scarf with gold~struck leaves so I celebrated by wearing my favorite scarf ~ a raw silk handspun beauty from India with lovely little ‘mirrors’ sewn into the fabric throughout. What is it about slipping into a corner table by the window of a machiatto infused cafe to scribble in my notebook with uptempo jazz and chatter in the background? Perhaps it was so beautifully expressed by Natalie Goldberg when she wrote ‘the deepest secret in our heart of hearts is that we are writing because we love the world, and why not carry that secret out with us?’ Yes!!!!!

I do love the world:) This year I will be teaching a personal expression through photography course at a Fine Arts Elementary school to grade sevens which has me so tickled and impatient to begin. It is a wonderful school where the curriculum balances the academics with the arts teaching drama, music, art and dance. I am bursting at the seams with ideas for my classes and am planning an exhibit in the school with the children’s photographs which will also have a ‘photo booth’ (with a ‘live’ ‘fuji instax mini’ photographer ready to take your portrait) and a writing booth where you can purchase a free verse poem written just for you as you wait:) Oh my ideas are flowing! The school is incredibly beautiful with views of the ocean, a theatre, a gallery and dance studio. Such a wonderful place to grow and learn.  As this project draws to a close, I will using my notes and experiences to begin an e~course for children based around it.

In the next day or so I am also unveiling my new e~course, ‘Bones of a Poet ~ Yes!’ which is a wonderful blend of writing and photography. This course in particular is so personal to me as it is the path of self expression through writing and images that called so much beauty and possibility into my world. Pop by here for course registration information in the next day or so:)

Today I am making pumpkin cookies ( a yearly tradition with the children) taking photo’s down at the beach of a wonderful little red typewriter I found at a thrift shop, looking forward to my trip to new york to see van morrison with my love, and pondering the question posed in this podcast ~ I am so curious ~ do you need an audience for your art?

Have a simply perfect Sunday…and oh oh oh! i love this so! and i would dearly love to own this… and this girl cracks me up

This week has been somewhat of a whirlwind of stress but still…there were snowberries and red shoes, curried tofu and wine….this book …this song.…good coffee (and we all know how important that is) reverse waterfalls, a chance to wear my midnight blue dress…the girl riding the bicycle...and at least one donut that I will own up to.

What beauty pebbled your world this week?

I am so happy with my new tripod I found in a thrift shop ~ it is metal and collapses down to a tabletop size ~ I used it for this shot perched on a picnic table. This image make me feel quite poetic and is called “I make only permanent tenderness’ ~ I am sure he would say I also make a lot of trouble but he’s wrong:) It is Monday and Monday is throwing challenges my way so while I am listening to a wonderful mix of songs my girlfriend made me, I thought I would throw a few links your way by way of compensation:)
Also a big shout out of appreciation for my beautiful friend Catherine who let me fling myself on her couch yesterday, drink her entire collection of tea and clean out her tin of homemade cookies while I talked about myself the whole time.
Very rude. Next time it’s your turn Cath ~ I promise:)

the Frances Han collection
my favorite poet
this brilliant treehouse
Delancey, in so many words
cursive buildings
story book collection drive!

well now…have a lovely week:)

Today it is Sunday. A blustery, most windswept day with a streak of wild rainy madness to it. Which somehow makes my coffee, this soft green cashmere shawl I am wearing and the Van Morrison record playing soulfully in the background an archipelago of utmost coziness for this morning. I am remembering a day last summer when we bought a tent for an Island adventure and I am longing to pack up sweaters and books, little lanterns and hiking boots to head off into the woods, pitch that very same tent and slip in between the rhythm of nature’s measured and overgrown heartbeat, falling asleep to the wind’s lullaby and his arm encircled about my waist.

My very first e~course class launched last night at midnight and I was up nervously checking to see that it all went well. I am so grateful for my class ~ it is igniting me in such a joyous way. It’s incredibly absurd how impatient I am to see the photo’s from my class’s assignment this week. I have opened registration for the next Bones of a Poet class in October which you can sign up for here:)

Today I am working on a series of photography workshops I will be teaching this year in a local Fine Arts School to grade sevens. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this ~ the amazing thing is I am the one who learns so much when I teach children ~ the way they see is so spontaneous and pure. Was it Picasso who said it took him his whole life to paint like a child? Oh and today! I am having afternoon tea with my best friend. What could be better? I love Sunday’s.

would you like to try making a paper camera?
and i am so drawn to ‘hand’ images ~ this one is particularly beautiful

photo ‘deeper than all roses’ above taken by Tess Herzog, art direction Madelyn Mulvaney

I am getting myself all ready for my very first bones of a poet e~course class which starts on Sunday. Which means a little bit of nervous and a whole lot of happy. Hence the chocolate face mask. It’s my way of celebrating:)

have a most surprisingly perfect weekend!

Isn’t reading in bed the most wonderful way to start your day?  Especially if you have a deliciously robust cup of coffee in your favorite mug and a slice of toast with butter and marmalade.  Up at the cabin I have been reading 19 varieties of Gazelle by Naomi Shihab Nye and this unexpectedly beautiful book called How to talk to birds by Richard Davids which I found in a thrift shop for a dollar.  In the world of photography I am enjoying ‘L’orient d’un photographie’ which I find simply stunning beyond belief. Stormy weather has a way of enticing you between the pages of a good book as well ~ tell me, what have you read lately that you might recommend to me?

today a poem for you…

Did you ever see a bee’s little bucket?
I was 39 before I saw.  Dipping into flowers,
the bee holds the bucket with it’s feet,
filling it, flying home pollen~rich
and if someone puts a screen at the mouth
of the hive, the bucket catches when
the bee flies in. It has a handle.

Where does it get the bucket?
It spins it from it’s own body.
Why are bees so lucky?

Naomi Shihab Nye
oh! and a song of course... and for all you sketchbook lovers out there aaaand something for the upper lip vigilantes