morning coffee, poetry and jazz
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
category: Sunday's are for lovers, art, music, photography, film, dance, persisting stars e~course/registration | | 12 comments »
September 20th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Yes, there is truly something wonderful and magical about fall and scarves and coffee and jazz and chatter all rolled into one. I love the feeling of wrapping cold fingers around a warm and steaming mug.
thank you so much for the link it is very timely, for me, as I’ve just been invited to show my work at a friends cafe.
congrats on the teaching job! all the project ideas sound very appealing and exciting and I’m sure they will love you as their teacher.
Have a delicious sunday!
see you soon,
S
September 20th, 2009 at 10:08 am
With every visit to your blog my senses are delighted and my heart feels a stir. I love your description of Fall as she creeps into our lives. Natalie Goldberg — love her — I have had Writing Down the Bones on my nightstand for over 10 years, it’s like a bible:)
What a gift the children will be receiving from you — I want to go back in time and be your student in that school, in that amazing setting against the ocean — what a dream!
Pumpkin cookies, gorgeous scarf around your neck — your simple celebrations of the season are huge:)
s
xoxox
September 20th, 2009 at 10:44 am
YAY for scarves in the fall! and SWEATERS!
okay, let’s face it, i wear sweaters year-round =)
autumn looks like it’s bringing so much beauty and possibility your way, maddie. may you continue to say YES!
September 20th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Your love of life and it’s details are so inspiring
It’s always a pleasure to come and read your blog!
September 20th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I am very interested in the poetry e-course. Sounds wonderful.
I love this post. There is something magical about sitting in a humming cafe, with words spilling out on the page.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Pure fall deliciousness in this post, Mads. Those children are lucky, lucky, lucky to have your tutelage and inspiration! xoxox
September 20th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
My down mood is quickly taking a sharp curve upwards after reading Tara’s post and now yours.
How can I feel blah when there is so much to celebrate?
I love your morning…! Perfecto. NYC and Van and your love, come on what could be finer.
And the lucky children who will be led by their child-like instructor on a journey of merriment and wonder, oh to be in that class! Where were teachers like you when I was a child?
I suppose that is why I am in your class now.
Happy day, miss sunshine!!
September 20th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Oh, you so live such an enchanted life. Such lucky kids, such fabulous you, and Van Morrison! I remember dancing to Moondance in a jeweled skirt much like your shawl, twirling under the stars to the music. And does one need an audience for one’s art? Bruce Springsteen once wrote “the poets down here don’t write nothing at all – they just stand back & let it all be.” So . . .
September 20th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Debi
I adore what Bruce (and I LOVE that man!) said…it is true…
almost dylanesque…
My most true and soulful writing I share with no one ….
and it is my best writing ~ nevertheless I know for a fact
it is ‘seen’ ~ it is ‘heard’
on an enchanted life…
as Ben Okri said
“We plan our lives according to a dream that came to us in our childhood, and we find that life alters our plans. And yet, at the end, from a rare height, we also see that our dream was our fate. It’s just that providence had other ideas as to how we would get there. Destiny plans a different route, or turns the dream around, as if it were a riddle, and fulfills the dream in ways we couldn’t have expected.”
and therein lies the poetry ~ the great poetry of life
I imagine that evening twirling under the stars to moondance
was a magical evening…perhaps is still twirling in your art
somewhere:)
September 21st, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Oh how I wish I was there, sitting in the cafe with you, Maddie. Well, I was there in spirit, my friend. It is one of Life’s pleasures to just hang out at a favourite local cafe with a cup of coffee and a good book (or journal). And I’ll be doing that with you at the end of October – yippee!
And HURRAY for YOU for your new class for young students! How cool is THAT?! Well, they are going to LOVE your class, Maddie. I’m really excited for you and for your students. Please post photos from the exhibition here on your blog!
Hope you are having a fabulous week!
PS: I made two loaves of pumpkin bread yesterday. Yum!
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:59 am
that’s very enviable life.. but still I wouldn’t trade mine. I have pleasant one to travel around explore wild wide world and enjoy the diversity.
October 6th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
I love this post, your appreciation of every minute, and especially your enthusiasm at how you will impact those children’s lives. They are lucky to have you with all of your passion.
Isabel