I found the best photobooth at the train station ~ the light is simply glorious and I can’t tell you how much fun I had.

Well, ok. perhaps I can.

I had so much fun!

Tomorrow I board the train to teach at Lizzie’s retreat ~ I can’t wait to share videos and pictures with you when I return.

Happy Tuesday!

~ notes from my journal ~ sketchbook ~

There is such an exquisite and ravenous vitality to autumn that makes me feel extraordinarily radiant. In a way it’s quite heartbreaking as I would love to go on a hat buying expedition, or immerse myself in some Kazuo Ishiguro, spend hours on the beach in reverent daydreamings scribbling in my journal, navigating the deeper thrummings of my heart (turning over thoughts carefully, with a sense of wonder like a newly found piece of seaglass) …or even take trapeze lessons. Why not? Wander around in this fecund energy following my inner north wearing striped sweaters and vibrant hued stockings. Well, I am wearing turquoise stockings today but I must surrender to the fact that I have much work to do. No lollygagging today alas.

There have been many beach meanders this week, however, with real joyousness ~ such as the autumnal equinox drumming you see in this infinitely beautiful little video. The sun was setting (real, subtle, private) and I was incredibly moved with the cathartic depth charge of the drumming, the sound of the train, the spiritual and sensual onrush of tidal rhythms ‘neath a cosmic moon’ that made me want to fall on my knees entranced for the sheer mystery and blessing of it all.

(‘me and my feather‘ by d. pohl)

I feel most like myself by the shore, the spray of salt on my lips, the everundulating poetry of the sea ~ symphonic notes of this glorious indian summer swingingly arrived. Oh!, and we have been cooking celebrating autumn as well ~ roasted beets and feta, kamut pasta with grilled peppers, bean salads and spinach omelets with basil (hummus toast alongside) not to mention the requisite maple pumpkin pie. (worth baking just for the warm spiced aroma it infuses in the home alone)

Today I am creating some lovely segments for my art of living cheerfully online course which begins on Sunday ~ this course feels so beautiful and wholesome to me ~ I am putting my heart and soul into it’s deliverance, creating with a sense of abandon and cherishing the process. I can’t wait to send it off into the world ~ a tide turning sailboat on sunny waters into the receiving hearts of the artists who signed up for the course. It feels so good to share murmurs of myself in my work whether it is through my photo’s, small films or courses.

I think I need a fresh new journal ~ well, actually, I know I do and that’s the honest truth. My head is spilling over with ideas that are downright racing to be birthed but my head is like a sieve and they keep slipping out into the ether ~ a new ‘ideas’ journal is just the answer.

It’s Thursday! How nice! My lovely dog is napping beside me on the couch as I write, a soft rain falling outside the garden windows and perhaps it is the perfect time to brew a pot of tea with a spoonful of manuka honey.

Wishing you a spray of moon on your lashes and a warm fresh platter of pumpkin spice cookies straight out of the oven.

xoxo

maddie

p.s.

I’m feeling a bit apologetic about the title of this post ~ i stole a lovely line from an ee cummings poem (i am going to utter a tree, nobody shall stop me) and sort of made it my own.

(sheepish )

but not sheepish enough to change it

‎”Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run…”

~Keats ~

There is sunshine in my bones ~ and love brimming in my soul as I spin into my favorite season ~ autumn. This week heralded celebrations with a morning misty seaside stroll, rainbows, feathers, sunbursts, a drive into the mountains and champagne (real champagne) by a jade green lake.

I love to mix a concoction of essential oils into a personal scent and this morning I have a sensual and simple alchemy of Jasmine, Patachoili and plum which seems to suit fall to perfection if I do say so myself.

Well! wishing you your own bottle of happy face wine, autumn poems and a little flourish of Django

vintage tins on my kitchen counter ~ filled with sugar and flour, oats and coffee..and that sweet little dog I bought at a thrift shop for a dollar

I am so so so happy to be guest curating over at Crescendoh today ~ go see!

Sunday just how I like it ~ quiet, slow and warm curled up with dog, mokka and a bowl of raspberry~ apple crumble (and a dollup of frozen vanilla yogurt for delicious measure) listening to the Beatles. I was up with the birds today filled with a lovely energy and the house smells so earthy as I am roasting root vegetables in the oven for supper which I will mix with some brown rice and goddess dressing in a nori wrap. (beets, carrots, yams, parsnips and garlic) After my various travelings this summer is feels so very good to nest in my seaside home and somehow I have always felt Sunday’s were most suited to homespun activities and quietudes.

I officially have been gifted my very first 45 record ~ a beautiful press of ‘my sweet Lord’ ~ sung my favorite Beatle ~ George Harrison ~

This weekend was just that kind of perfect and included some lovely moments…

~ dinner at my favorite restaurant with a group of yoga friends ~ afterwords, we walked eleven blocks (singing with a generous ignition of red wine) to a birthday party that went all through the night prompting a run to Tim Horton’s for donuts and coffee at 5 in the morning (followed by my grand idea to make casado’s (rice, beans, eggs with sliced banana’s since there were no plantains) for everyone)

~ adding an extra class to my ‘Art of Living Cheerfully’ online course and counting the day’s to Lizzies retreat (she has the BEST goody bags and I am hoping teachers get one too ~ hint!)

~ enjoying an exhilerating yoga class (leaning in so deeply to each pose, pushing myself beyond comfort levels and then rewarding myself by falling asleep in savasana ~ शवासन:)

~ baking a raspberry~apple crumble which somehow heralds the arrival of Fall for me (my favorite time of the year)

~choosing a happy little can of green paint to paint my bicycle with as a Fall project ~ inspired by the colors in this cheery video

~ managing somehow to practice, practice, practice and perfect rather wonderfully the paradiddle on the drums (feeling pretty awesome about that one)

Well, beautiful friends I am off to make another mokka pot of coffee ~ leaving you with some lovely coffee images for your Sunday morning cuppa’ aaaaaaaand…I LOVE this tattoo!

aaaaaaand…I am guest curating over at Crescendoh today ~ go see!