the dreaming Press.

It's magic~!

I love modern technology. Just when you think I'm home posting to Typepad, swooosh!!! I'm actually doing other things. Typepad is wonderful enough to allow blog updates that are timed. So very, very cool. I should use this feature all the time.

So, now instead of blogging on a Friday night I can write to you when things are fresh and lovely and then just time them to magically appear on Friday night. Friends of mine have used this feature for years but not I. Nope. I learn the difficult way.

Shown above is a lovely market in Amman, the Al Afghani Bazaar. Lots of treasures to be found there, be sure to load up on sweets when in Jordan...there is a ton to choose from. Rugs woven by hand in the Bani Hamida mountains, gold and more gold in the souks, also there are these tiny drippy little sweet honey encrusted pastry thingies that will make you lose your mind. Of course, as shown above, lots and lots of boho-ish Gypsy-ish Bedouin antique silver jewelery. But, you needn't spend anything there. The best treasure is to be found by using your eyes, ears and heart when in Jordan. No money required.

THIS is very cool, it's practically magic too. Instagram + Blurb= Instant LOVE <3 I am excited to get started on making my first book. I have so many Instagram shots that I love, and after sending Postagram's to all and sundry this gives me a new outlet with which to torture friends and family! I'll show you the results when they are in! Exciting!!

OH! and last but most certainly not least, a simple cupcake recipe that is sure to dazzle you beyond your wildest dreams. Have a sweet weekend. xo

Light As Air Magic Cupcakes

2 eggs 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup margarine 1/2 cup self-rising flour

Oven to 350, put ingredients all into a big beautiful bowl. Double this recipe for 24 cupcakes, it only makes 12. Whip it all together with your wire whisk, until smooth as smooth can get. Line cupcake tins with paper liners, fill each half full with the cupcake mixture. Bake 18 to 20 minutes until golden. Springs back to the touch when done. Cool and decorate with lots of sweet goodies, or just ice to perfection. Buttercream works nicely.

stoke the fires of your *atlas* heart

A couple, {heck a few!} urgent things. I'll get to them most hurriedly, so you don't waste a single precious moment that you could be using to sign on for grand explorations and juicy adventures {that you so deserve}.

First, my friend Debbie wants to extend an invitation for you to go to INDIA.

Second,my beautiful blogging friend Lisa has a deadline to meet, so that she can go to MEXICO.

Third, my friend Tara is hostessing the best life-changing trip {trust me, I've done it}, to JORDAN.

Last,but certainly not least, I am taking a group of women through the Women's Travel Network to MOROCCO.

So, now with all of these updates your way...it's all up to you. Maybe it's time to pay it forward and give a little to see another realize the work of her dreams...or maybe it's that time to pack a suitcase with your camera, your journal and a couple of pairs of undies, sunscreen...and hit the road to realize your own sweeping and vast dreams.

I've prioritized the list according to time deadlines. Lisa will need your help within the next ten days. Debbie has room for you up until tomorrow only.

The other two are very important, but can be discussed in another upcoming post real soon. If I were you I'd head over to see the INDIA and MEXICO links first. Thanks friends, fellow adventurers and loving hearts. You are all cherished, deeply, each of you. xo

p.s. photo of the lovely blue doorway taken from a bumbling yet speeding van in the Middle East while driving along sharing cups of hot nuts and listening to this or something like it...in March 2010

white rabbits, seabiscuits & planning trips {our bones as soul}

 

Mary Oliver has a poem called *bone* which gives me chills.  It speaks of soul, of longing, of oceans and of knowing the golden sand lays 'neath the gray sea waves (like the knowing of our soul existence 'neath this soft watery exterior).

You will find that poem in her collection titled "Why I Wake Early" and you won't stop there...no.  I'm certain you'll linger over this book for eternity. 

Notice the poet takes us to the details we oft times overlook?  That is the job of the poet-to point.  We need only to give our full attention and look to where she points.

Today I awoke (early) and exclaimed "White Rabbit!~" For last night before the fat rains and cracking thunder my eldest and I shared a dish of salted green pistachios & a girl movie & she regaled me with that of which she knows for sure.  Listening to her speak makes my heart burst with pride, (not knowing whatever small act of karma was responsible for the gift of her in my life or perhaps it was just sheer luck) and my mind open to the knowledge that only eleven year olds are privy too.

One thing she did share with me was the old English superstition of waking on the first day of the new month and saying "White rabbit," before saying anything else. This brings the sayer good luck for the whole month~!

She had us all in a tizzy making sure we remembered, the six year old mini version of her, her little sister, marking up a pink post-it note to stick on the closet door in front of the bed as a reminder! Well the funny thing was, it stormed so loudly and raged on for hours and the dog was panting and shaking and the eldest girl and I crept around the black house staring out the windows at the storm (fascinated with nature) and so when we finally went up to tuck her into bed with her fan on {to drown the noise of course...} the little one sat bolt upright in bed like a mini-Bella Lugosi and with zombie eyes and a squeaky cute little voice said at the top of her lungs "White rabbit!" then fell back asleep within seconds.  The eldest and I were in hysterics.

Whatever your superstitions, whatever your poetry, whatever brings you joy and love and good karma this August...I wish it all for you and more. xoxo

P.S. I'm going to Morocco in 2012.  Would you like to go too? Watch for more information in a post this week.

 

green teas & endless seas

i love green tea ice cream and the tiny bits of leaves you see strewn throughout, it has that sweet bite i love so much, and the colour is simply healthful & invigorating

sunday is more green tea ice cream

office organization

Hawaiian pineapple chicken for dinner No, Thai Pork with Papaya!!!!

walking the dog

running and yoga stretching

meditations upon which wallpaper design to choose for the bathroom (doing one wall adventurously and then painting the opposite wall in a very bright complimentary colour) it's time to shake things up with colour and vibrancy! reading a stack of twelve books, some are making me cry {what lessons they contain}

did you know??? there are seas upon endless seas of wisdom, love & compassion in YOU

really

xoxo

a pirate's life for me- {post number 500}

 
The late, late nights.  They make you lazy.  You stay up late, you rise late, you eat late, you do everything well, late.  And it's a clockless wonderful thing.  Time? Who cares! We are on holiday.  We don't need no stinkin' clocks.

A life without clocks, hmmm.  I may just get tired of that after a time.  ;)

A decision has been made and it's a pirate's life for me.  No straight irons for the hair.  Breezy gauzy dresses and sandals-kinda beachy laid back.  I'm feelin' summer, and it's a pirate's season.  Makes me want to anchor my ship in the Leeward Islands and pitch my hammock on the nearest coconut tree. Such dreams, huh?

I've been eating the *best* eat-clean pasta salad you could ever hope for, with fresh mint, olives, red onion, feta cheese & red wine vinegar...so very good.  It's not that creamy store bought pasta salad.  This one is actually good for you!  Here is the amazing recipe so you can try it yourselves:

*Best* Pasta salad recipe in the whole world:

2 1/2 cups of whole wheat bowtie pasta

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise

1/2 seedless cucumber chopped up into bits

1 yellow bell pepper cut into 1/4 inch pieces

1 cup of canned white kidney beans (rinsed and drained)

1/2 small red onion diced

2 ounces of fat reduced feta cheese, cubed

1/4 cup of fresh mint leaves, chopped up small

1/4 cup of pitted kalamata olives, halved

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

1 teaspoon of minced fresh garlic

1 tablespoon of honey mustard

1/4 teaspoon of oregano

1/4 teaspoon of sea salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Prepare the pasta according to package directions and then rinse in cool water.  Pat dry on paper towels to make sure there is no water left on the pasta.  Combine the pasta with the olives, beans, peppers, cucumber, mint, red onion, feta cheese and tomatoes. 

In a separate small bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients together to make the dressing.  Toss it all together and serve. 

So SO freakin' great! You will love it.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. xoxo

 p.s. this little blog has now pumped out 500 posts! gimme a whoot!!! xo

 

intoxicating expression and the art of *seeing*

 
Well, well, well.  I found a delightful little book!  Summer is my season to get down and dirty with a stack of books so...I went out in search of a few titles. Some came my way by chance also from my mother (love her SO!) and some just magically fell into my hands once I spied them on the shelf, as a magnet is drawn to steel. {pick me! pick me! they seem to whisper}

So delightful is the one book I chose in fact, that I read it nearly cover to cover yesterday and it was full of intoxicating goodness; words as wine upon the lips.  It is Photography and the Art of Seeing: A visual perception workshop for film and digital photography  by Freeman Patterson.  A must read for any creative person.  As this book wakes you up not only to the creative potential in your photography but would do the same for any avenue in your life as an artist or otherwise.  There is a zen about this book that I just drank up. This is but one of quite a few the author wrote so I plan to load up on them all.  'Cause it's a season to be intoxicated with wisdom, words, wine & spirit.

Speaking of intoxication; WOW to this photo (aptly named The Dreaming, coincidence I assure you...!).  I'm happy to have stumbled across this gentleman's flickr stream.  I always wonder what treasures lie in flickr, and this is such a gem.  Colin Vincent you are a genius.

Photography is expression, so when done with soul and passion that will shine through.  I believe that with everything that I am and over a plate of lime toast and coconut coffee this morning I perused another form of expression...that which I found in my friend Patty's blog-"inside the makeup case".  This woman has impeccable makeup everyday, she rocks the wildest colours and coolest ideas you've ever seen on a face and makes it look perfect.  She is "whiplashes" on Instagram so give her a follow.  She's not just a pretty face; she's a photographer too. (p.s. Patty and I met in esthetic school and she had a different colour of perfect polish on her nails everyday.)

Oh how could I leave out a crazy fun evening at the spa we have coming up? I almost forgot...Firefly Creative Writing is coming July 12 to Dance That Pen! This is a sweet little workshop for women who want a juicy date with their creative side. Together, we’ll create a fun, inspiring space to fill pages with words — tiny stories and micro-memories, rants and letters and questions. Come expecting to laugh, share, surprise yourself, and support others on their own unique creative paths! If you are in the Toronto area and wish to sign up for this event, simple click the above link and follow the trail of breadcrumbs.  We'll have a howling good time with Chris Kay Fraser she's a crazy gal! She'll help us get intoxicated with wicked words and wonderful stories...we all have them inside so let's get them out.

With so much intoxicating goodness from the buzzing bees outside my window to the carafe of wine decanting for tonight's supper, I'll leave you with a song that will surely lull you into a deep summer complacency. 

SEE with your eyes, express yourself through your life be that with a camera in your hand, a pen or a makeup brush.  Refuse to stop seeing and start expressing.

xoxo

*photo of my young daughter running taken by me yesterday afternoon during a game of Man on the Moon ;)

Re-entry into the atmosphere.

Lilacs on the lunch table.

Summer started a day or two ago for me and just being outside with my daughter and my friend was enough. Isn't it all just enough? It ought to be. Simple. Simple pleasures are for the soul caged within the human machine.

A soul caged in order to operate simply and exquisitely, with it's carmine pump that keeps it powered up for naps 'neath oak trees in hammocks, for water journeys fevered with fish, for the bipedal quest up high on mountaintops where it places it's flag at the summit before prostrating itself in asanas of reverence that would make the crickets stop singing to witness in sheer astonishment. We are caged here to relish the minute and the miraculous, to revel in the dream and the pure abandonment of gazing out at a liquid plum wine sky speckled with cosmic gases that burn into infinity. For if not for said cages, why...we'd be off like a flash to the next thing and the next thing and {like a crow to tinfoil on a roadside} the next brilliantly shiny thing....

The lilacs on the lunch table don't need to know they smell heavenly, don't need that basic reassurance...they just go about their business {of being} colouring our world purple with the scent and the sound of a thousand breezes which rush past kissing lips. The entymological heat prickles the skin on the back of our necks as we sup frozen popsicles to heed to the flowance and ebbance of all that Is.

Liquid blue canopy is the dream sky; an ocean for birds who take for granted the fact that their cages come with a set of feathered wings. Tis they who are truly free. No toiling. No sweat beads on their tiny fluffed up foreheads when the nest rent-check is late. Just a chirpy song and a swan dive into the crystalline air that holds them aloft.

{Ah the spirit of summer as enjoyed from the soul within the cage.}

Go do some splendid things for simple and happy warm summer day; apply some sparkly eye makeup, listen to music on your iPod while walking briskly, do hot yoga, whip up your own fruit smoothie, or better yet...get this recipe and make some frozen hot chocolate~! Dance beside the campfire, wear a pretty dress, sing out loud and then collapse worn out to dream a little dream amidst crispy white line dried sheets.

xoxo

Joyous! No one can take my freedom away~

Oh man I'm so hungry, cutting the grass is tiring work and so now I'm patiently awaiting tonight's feast. There is a homemade lasagna in the oven (yeah, mine!), smelling all delicious with it's layers of Italian cheese, fresh pasta and strained tomatoes with basil. I don't use tomato sauce, I find the strained tomatoes with basil (homemade or bought in a jar) gives the dish a more authentic flavour. Not that I would know for sure, never having been to Italy, but having an Italian neighbour who bottles her own tomatoes has given me inklings to say the least! It is a little like armchair travel, experiencing one of her meals. As close to Tuscany as I'll get for the moment.

I must tell you the funniest thing that had me in near tears this morning...a sighting of a woman jogging in a tin foil suit! It struck me as hilarious for whatever reason, I wasn't laughing at the woman (no way!) but the idea of "cooking"yourself while exercising. Like a wrapped up hot dog goin' for a jog-a-roo! I applaud the trailblazers like Tinny. At least she is out tackling the world and her health. Those who know me know I love to laugh...and it doesn't take much. I prefer happy over any other emotion. {Especially when something is so childishly funny you nearly wet your knickers over it.}

Sans tin foil suits, we walked through the woods this week, the trilliums are in bloom all over and the towering maples and firs wove us a warm shelter in the tapestry of our afternoon. I live to be surrounded by green. Give me a forest anyday. Better yet, a forest on a mountainside beside the sea and I'm in my personal heaven. :)

I bought a few ivy plants for my kitchen window today. I have to have climbing plants around me. Insense and climbing plants. Plants on the window sill are so '70's.

Oh I love the look our parents homes had in the mid '70's...those my age or older (ahem) would remember with a fondness the macrame plant holders, teak furniture and low lines. Such things as large green bottles that collected wine corks were also all the rage, and rightly so. How time has flown since those Buster Brown days. That was back in the special days, when you ran out of money on a Saturday night, and that was it my friends until the bank opened at 10 am on Monday morning. No automated machines to spit the cash out at you. Once the wallet was empty, that was the end of it. My kids don't believe me when I tell my funny stories of no bank machines. They roll their eyes and laugh. I love that, they get silly. That's life giving.

Those '70's days were just so simple and joyous and organic and energizing. Today's technology can just wear you down...too much of it takes away from our real lives. We need to step back outside to that joyous green place. Tin foil or no tin foil...we need to just go! {Alternatively...maybe disco your way out the door.} Thanks Lori. xo

p.s. dreaming Press is now on Facebook.

walk a path lit with violets & happy hearts; today's evening post

 
Our hearts are in a botanical space, lit up with violets & hummingbirds in a pale & lovely symmetry.  Singing with valour and glee they beat uptickingly to gather up armfuls of mossy trees...as lilacs perfuming our very air. 

These are our choices.  

Allowing for the prana flow, the wild climbing of vines, the shock-waves of love that pulsate chuggingly from our raspberry-hued engines, the clapping of hands and the breaking-it-down Charlie Brown's, & the walking amidst paths of our own making {the ones lit with violets & happy hearts} rather than some pale version of one forged previously for us.  

This day was lime marmalade on rye, margarita cake & rhubarb martinis.  What an organically imbued palette of gastronomy! Our friend and neighbour hollered over the fence, "Cake and martinis?" Well, duh! Of course! See you after we get home from the park.

Skipping back from sunwashed swingsets & 'neath a singing cicadan moonrise...our hands & fingers hammocked, intertwined as if lingering lakeside at a cottage midsummer afternoon. A familiar place.  A place where the happy hearts of family dwell. Kudos to my friend for the superb rhubarb martini.  Sheer perfection!

Hope you've made your own conscious choices.  {To do such a thing is a magnet for divine prosperity!}

Let there be light.

xoxo

 

i bottled the blue sky with conviction & grace

the blue sky she tested me!

one day as a thrill.

she shone down and through silver and pewter cumulus puffs she asked me one question;

Do you know the difference between a conviction and an opinion? she purred.

"Yes," said I. "I'll bottle the sky. It is my conviction to do so, I don't even need to try. There are those who would argue, with conviction even, that I haven't actually done it. But being so true to myself I know those opinions are only reflections of the opinionators themselves. You see, opinions are like mirrors, they reflect back to us what we truly are."

You think you are so clever don't you? and then she misted me with a light rain and rolled in her ominous dark cloud. She thought she could sway me, {she thought me too proud.}

"That is YOUR opinion," I stated with a smile.

As I lay back on that croaking frog grass while the rain fell in sheets to blanket me, I still held my bottle of blue sky {as a hope within a conviction sugared dream.} That she could never take from me. And I grew, as a result of that rain.

xoxo

52 photos project, a ray of light