I have a few egrets

was the remark on a t-shirt in a holiday catalog...farewell March, you sort of sucked, broken china dreams. I hope Spring and Summer will refill the cup...

I love what Andy Goldsworthy says about not feeling like himself if he is not working...and an old favorite sad love song from Randy Newman.

Sunday Quote

If there be anywhere on earth a lover of God is always kept safe from falling, I know nothing of it, for it was not shown me. But this was shown: that in falling and rising again we are always kept in the same precious love.

- Julian of Norwich

The Sisters of Mercy

they are not departed nor gone.
They were waiting for me when I thought
that I just can't go on,
and they brought me their comfort
and later they brought me their song,
oh, I hope you run into them,
you who've been traveling so long....

one of my favorite songs - by the amazing Leonard Cohen. We tried to get tickets to his upcoming concert but they were sold out immediately. We are not the only ones who love him.

I love these dolls - more from my skulks at the Lillian August store...

store-skulking

Actually we were just visiting Lillian August, a gorgeous home design store - this is actually their outlet in Norwalk, Ct....whoever designs this place is amazing. I have been known to bring my camera into the strangest of places, but for some reason, all salespeople went superagent on me, pointing me out to each other (yo, people, too obvious) which is just wrong - then I just want to misbehave! Some snaps of beautiful taupes, shells chandelier and centerpieces, and me "reflecting" on how cute the husband is :)

Sunday Quote

Have courage for the great sorrows of life

and patience for the small ones,

and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task,

go to sleep in peace,

God is awake.

-Victor Hugo

Book Review

Torch by Cheryl Strayed

Sometimes a book becomes more than a book...for me, usually it is a book of poetry, or a poem in particular, something to hang on to when things are not going well. You know those days/weeks/God help you if it's months, when things just falling badly like dominos, one falling brick after another, until you are wondering if there is an ancient gypsy curse on your family or what. This has been my March. A friend had recommended awhile ago that I read an essay in The Sun by Cheryl Strayed which led to me getting her book, this book. From the opening line "She ached." I was drawn in to the lives of these characters, vibrating with so much life that at the book's close, I feel I know them, that I will refer to them in my memory as people I have cared for. I am a very speedy reader when I want to be, but I delayed this book, held its pages at bay, to help me walk through some difficult days. It was nice knowing that at the day's end, I could rest my head on my pillow and open the book up, and be in Midden with these people I had come to care so deeply about. A terrific book from a gifted writer. Can't wait for the next one.

My Prez on the telly

As I post, the president is on The Tonight Show. I love that he is so accessible. I love that I am sitting here in my bathrobe listening to him talk about AIG and banks and the future and steps towards the future and all of it with that grace and intelligence and wit that I still shake my head over and think, man, check out our President.

you may be rain, you may be water...

Sunday Quote

God did not wait till the world was ready,till...the nations were at peace. God came when the heavens were unsteady, and prisoners cried out for release. God did not wait for the perfect time. God came when the need was deep and great. God dined with sinners in all their grime, turned water into wine. God did not wait till hearts were pure. In joy God came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt. To a world like ours of anguished shame God came, and God's light would not go out. God came to a world which did not mesh, to heal its tangles, shield its scorn. In the mystery of Word made Flesh the Maker of the stars was born. We cannot wait til the world is sane to raise our songs with joyful voice, for to share our grief, to touch our pain, God came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

-Madeleine L'Engle, "First Coming".

Look!

And just like that, they're here!

Why blogs are good things

I checked in on NieNie Dialogues to see how she's doing and she's doing it brave and true. Knowing Stephanie Nielson is out there trucking along makes the horizon seem a little less tilted, a great deal brighter.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Grimshaw

For those of you who remember our friend, Mr. Grimshaw, sad news that he is gone.
Starting out as a mysteriously giant brown mystery fish in the bottom of a pet store delivery of goldfish, my daughter rescued him from the bin. He developed very slowly from a tadpole into a very handsome bullfrog - he did have a twisty leg which meant he would not have fared well in the wild but he had a giant tank, many guppy and brine shrimp friends, and an ongoing feast of crickets (many of which would escape and chirp, horribly, all winter long in hidden corners of every room, sigh). Sadly, earlier this year he jumped off his "land" - a nice slab of floating island (they need land if you ever keep frogs) and his leg caught in something, fracturing his pelvis. The one vet said there was a chance it might all knit together, but it did not. Mr. Grimshaw was unable to catch his crickets and grew thinner and thinner. The second vet said he was suffering, so he has been gently sent off to a great big pond in the sky with lots of minnows and crickets and no scary birds or snakes trying to eat him (and yes, I am getting quite weepy here, so I shall stop).
Anyway, goodbye Mr. Grimshaw. You added a lot to our lives.

Must-read essay

A facebook friend posted this powerful and beautiful essay that I wanted to share with those of you who did not read it yet.

Sunday Quote

Thou that hast given so much to me,

Give one thing more, a grateful heart.

Not thankful when it pleaseth me,

As if thy blessings had spare days;

But such a heart, whose pulse may be thy praise.

-George Herbert

YouTube Spa

Maybe it's the changing seasons but it seems everyone is a tad punchier and more stressed than usual...myself included... so here are some links, mostly YouTube, that are your spa on a computer. (And don't forget the great Ergonomics link under my faves list).

I thought reflexology was only feet. Nope. Also face. Also the hands....and feet... (also ears but the Youtube people were mostly just chatty about that stuff). Besides reflexology - some regular stretches...If you can ignore the annoying intro music that is too loud and then Monica who speaks too softly - these are the go to exercises for neck pain. After clicking through a bunch of "Monica" vids, my neck felt so much better. Get a strap or stretchy band for this shoulder one...and a nicely titled one (even if I got restless and quit halfway through) of just breathing - none of this is quite the same as a real spa (not that I really know although a friend swears by this place I want to try) but you do feel all peace love woodstock relaxed and if you are like me - these are less stressful than classes where I forget what the instructor said, fill my mind with inane chatter, and think " was that two short breaths or two long breaths? Why does everyone else know how to do this stuff?" Here, you can mess up. Who cares? It's just YouTube. Relax already - Spring is coming.

Catch as catch can

Just back from a lovely dinner out with the artist who created these, post cello lesson. My love of octopi and craft makes this a must-share, I love this artist - have a bunch of her stuff purchased over the years. Read her Advice from a Failure to be inspired.

Love arts, crafts? me, too (especially that goat), these are worth a look. I may not cook, I may not even get to eat what I want anymore, but I still like to read about it. Cheers!

Sunday Quote

Come, come, whoever you are,
Wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving -
it doesn't matter,
Ours is not a caravan of despair.
Come, even if you have broken your vows
a hundred times
Come, come again, come.

-Rumi