Dedication.
(Monday, January 14, 2008)
Why... do I have such trouble going through with things I start? This blog project is a perfect example. Now, of course, the first year of marriage has had its own challenges and has taken up (in a good way) so much of me, made me see myself for who I am, etc., that I haven't had much energy to do much else...
But I always find myself coming back to wanting a place like this, to force myself to stick to the inspirations I acquire, to follow through with them, to DO exactly what I WANT to DO. And don't!
So now I will try again. This time, with the knowledge that it doesn't always come naturally. That I can't expect to wake up every day and feel ready for the world, inspired, or even feel like thinking about anything but what has to be done this day. But it's time to follow through with something... in fact, many things!
But I'll start slow.
Letters and Postcards and Other Adventures!
(Monday, June 11, 2007)
I've been feeling under the weather and having very, very strange dreams! But tomorrow, in the event that I (hopefully!) feel better, I may have some adventures in mind. Even if they just take place on my new living room floor.
I'm thinking lately of how much I love letters, and how I can't remember the last time I received one. I used to have a pen pal when I was young who lived in California, but it was almost like a phase that we grew out of. I don't know anyone who lives far away...
But writing letters would be therapeutic, I'm sure, in a journal form. My therapist once had me write a letter to my birth father, without the pretext that I was going to send it. I ended up sending it, but what if I chose someone to whom I'd never send the letters?
We used to have to do this exercise when I was in kindergarten or first grade, writing journal entries, sorts of "letters," to the person of our choosing. At first, I wrote to an imaginary girl named "Daphne." Then, I started writing to the "Dolphins" football team. Who knows why! I must share some of those silly entries!
So I wonder, if I wrote letters in a journal, to whom would I write? Do any of you do this? Hmm....
A Month's Lessons.
(Friday, June 08, 2007)
This past month has been one of learning for me. I've been out of class, but I have learned more important things:
How to take pleasure out of each moment in itself. Relax, breathe, and don't wish you were in tomorrow, because of this or that... simply enjoy the "now." This has always been a hard lesson for me.
Find a prayer in even the most drab activities. Folding laundry, doing dishes... each can be a little piece of peace.
The value of caring for a man, learning to place the one you love before yourself constantly. This is something that is even more necessary to every day life now, in marriage, than it was before. Doing the little things for someone makes all the difference in a relationship.
The wedding preparations in their last month or two were absolutely exhausting paired with class, finals, last minute things to do. Taking time to breathe and be absolutely on no schedule, with no obligations, has been heavenly! I promise pictures once I get them uploaded and organized. There are sooo many, and it will be a project in itself!
I'm walking each day, taking my days breath by breath, and taking each moment slowly. It takes practice to live this way.
Hello, old friend.
(Tuesday, June 05, 2007)
I have been gone... and now I'm done being gone. I said so last time, but last time, probably immediately after that post, I got swept up in this crazy one-day affair of excitement and joy that goes "poof" before you know it, called a WEDDING!
And now I am settled, in a place of our own. And I'm very, completely here.. and have never been so "here" and happy in my life.
So, hello again.
Time flies!
(Thursday, March 15, 2007)
Long time, no see! I have been utterly overwhelmed. So much to do... so little time! The weather here is crazy. I've got spring fever. Yesterday, it was like summer... tonight into tomorrow, we're getting possibly half a foot of snow. Goodness gracious, I hope it all evens out and becomes more predictable by the time my wedding rolls around....
This is a quick note to let you know I'm alive and quite well. I suppose you could say I took a little mini-vacation, even though I didn't leave my house, and even though I've been up to my ears in work and busy things.
In the meantime, how charming are these little vintage postcards? It's almost like spying or finding a hidden diary and knowing you shouldn't be watching or reading!
Postcards of my imaginary vacation coming soon....
I promise!
The Secret of Pistoulet!
(Saturday, February 24, 2007)
What a deliciously quiet weekend I am having. Yesterday, I spent the entire day unpacking all the kind gifts we got for my bridal shower, washing every little piece and putting them away, amidst cleaning and redecorating what will soon be my OWN! little kitchen. While it was quite the task, it was so very therapeutic and relaxing. My feet were tired, but refreshingly tired, and what will soon be my OWN! little kitchen! looks so quaint and pretty!
This afternoon, I had very much work and studying to get done. I holed myself up in my to-be's apartment and made a cosy little time of it. I walked down to the corner store and decided to treat myself with a little something to bring home. I opened the window just a little bit, cuddled up with a throw on the couch, made myself a cup of cafe Francais in one of my new Pistoulet mugs, and made an afternoon of it.
The Pistoulet dinnerware we got as a gift is so utterly charming! I still wish for the book that goes along with the set, so maybe soon I will treat myself to picking it up... then I can share the Secrets of Pistoulet with you! (I wonder what it is? Delicious soup recipes, I think...) Anyway, half the secret's how lovely all the plates and little bowls look! And the mug I enjoyed my cafe from this afternoon! The review for the book is exquisite; I'm so intrigued...
"Far away in the remote, untraveled southwestern French countryside, there is a small village which contains two homes, an eleventh-century church, and a very special farm known as Pistoulet." Thus begins The Secrets of Pistoulet, a charming and beautiful little book filled with food, magic, and love. Part fiction, part cookbook, this richly illustrated book is reminiscent of the popular Griffin and Sabine, with its collection of letters to be removed from envelopes, and recipes tucked into their own little pockets. Drawings, photographs, snippets of diaries, and mysterious maps decorate this tale of Mademoiselle J., who arrives at Pistoulet with a broken heart. There she is welcomed by the farm's tenants: Madame Claude; Monsieur Andre; the black dog, Marcel; and a chicken that lays golden eggs. Soon, such soul-strengthening dishes as Potage of Babble (guaranteed to cease excessive chatter), Potage of Passion (Cooks beware: this soup has been known to result in marriage proposals!), and Tart of Sunshine (sure to heat both body and soul) have Mademoiselle J. on the road to recovery.
The Secrets of Pistoulet packs a lot of charm into a small package. Readers who love to cook will want to try these simple, tasty recipes, though it may be difficult in some cases to follow the directions exactly ("Go to the nearest fishing port and acquire moules from the fisherman with the largest pecs and most tattoos....). Those who don't will be more than content to simply imagine these sumptuous meals as they, along with Mademoiselle J., attempt to unlock Pistoulet's magical mysteries."
So much to be done this weekend, but so much accomplished. And still many hours of the evening left to spend quietly. I think I'll run a bath and read a book and wait for my man to come home. Could I be any more content?
Poetry Thursday: On Hips...
(Thursday, February 22, 2007)
I have been sooo very swept up in the past week. Lots of busy things to do, tasks for class and just for the wedding. A surprise bridal shower was thrown for me on Sunday, and since then, I've been very consumed with getting things ready and cleaning the apartment and this and that!
But now my week is coming to an end, and even though there's so much left to do before Monday, I decided to take some quiet time and indulge in Poetry Thursday. I have been spending some time (when there is time) drawing figure studies of women, so the topic was particularly interesting to me this week! Even though I didn't have time to write something myself, this week's prompt really inspired me to share these two poems that I adore...
Maya Angelou
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
*
Homage to My Hips
Lucille Clifton
| these hips are big hips. they need space to move around in. they don't fit into little petty places. these hips are free hips. they don't like to be held back. these hips have never been enslaved, they go where they want to go they do what they want to do. these hips are mighty hips. these hips are magic hips. i have known them to put a spell on a man and spin him like a top |
© Megan K. 2006-2007
