the dreaming Press.

Heed the script of your little inner scribe.

 
This is the view from a lovely lady's living room sofa.  Well, at least in 2009 it was the view.  Since then she has married, had a baby boy, and her life is totally not the same anymore of that I'm sure.  But for a few endearing nights this flat in Greenwich Village was home to my two sisters-in-law and I.  We marvelled at what a glorious job Jo did decorating her place so simply and yet so stylishly.  I fondly look back at New York now and cannot wait to return to eat more pizza, snap more photos, and drink in so much of the abundant art, food & culture that buzzes around each corner there. Who wants to join me?

I look back upon past vacations fondly, whether they consisted of long stays at a beach or quick apartment rentals in major U.S. cities.  Each has offered me a small chunk of my life's story, each has contributed to the development of who I am as a person.  You see no experience is too grand or too tiny to do just that...to contribute to your story.  Each nugget of your existence is worth so vastly much at the end of the day. 

People shape us, whether they know it or not.  Strangers even, with their kindnesses- such as the couple I met on Broadway in a restaurant the first time I travelled to New York.  They knew I was alone and offered to share cheesecake with me.  We did.  I will not ever forget those people.  Simple kindnesses.  Such an easy thing to offer the world.  Wow I guess I'm feeling nostalgic again.  Those nostalgias get me through sometimes...you know, the dull parts.  The parts of life that maybe aren't as dazzling as a train trip to New York City.  Sigh....

Okay that is enough lecturing out of me today is going to be downright exciting! At the little spa we have a wonderful gal coming to our girls night event to teach us a thing or two; I'm decorating a new manicure room and that in itself presents another opportunity to flex my creative muscles...for everything I do is done on a shoestring because that is all the budget entails (but that is *fun!*); and I'm in the midst of creating my own font! {*Yes! My own!*}  Oh my just the thought of that makes me want to boogie on down & dance!  I love fonts, typeface, calligraphy...anything to do with the written and/or printed word.  I'm making my own because well, why not? I need a signature font. I think everyone does.  Don't you? Of course you do.

I'm following "the call" of my calling.  Heeding the script of the little voice within {I hear you, tiny scribe-let's make some magic!}.  Honouring myself, and my deepest wishes.  {It feels mighty good.}

Go have the best day! Sending you a wish on the breeze...catch it, kiss it, then toss it back out for the next guy will you?

xoxo

p.s. Do you just love this? Woodland jewellery. Tiny terrariums.  What could be finer?

a love story~

 

A long long time ago a geeky girl met a great guy. {They were made for each other.}

A whirlwind courtship ensued for four years. {This taught them the value of spontaneity.}

They broke up in order to grow up, for three whole years. Each relegated to their own living quarters, she in her large one bedroom terra cotta apartment with its sparkling purple kitchen countertops and  three cats to keep her company. Their names-Cassiopeia, Felix and Jones.  Not really a girl to date much, she often times just hung out with her married friends, thank goodness each of those couples had a spare room with her name on it for those occasions when she just couldn't stand to stay alone in her wonderfully charming yet awfully lonely apartment.  {This taught her the value of true friendship.} 

They hooked up again thirteen years ago this coming March.  {This taught her the value of patience, and non-compromise.}

They then became home owners together. {This taught them the value of financial strain.}

They then adopted a delightful Jack Russell Terrier.  Then *surprise!* they had a darling blonde haired, green eyed baby girl.  A tough act to follow was that little miss, but along came (finally! after four years trying) a sister for her, a new baby girl with brown hair and brown eyes.  Double trouble.  {These three taught them the value of putting others first in life.}

And so came the time one day {when the young man who had built his career, built a solid foundation for a family, became a father to two delightful human daughters and one sweet canine daughter,} that he would propose to his long time love, who he had put up with lovingly so for nineteen years. 

{Though she often lost her temper, ate a lot of cheese, got way too deep into conversation sometimes that he thought he needed a psych degree just to relate to what she had to offer, she slept late and stayed up even later, she had the yearning to globe-trot, see lots of concerts, often freakishly change her hair so dramatically that he could only just get used to one look before she did a switcheroo on him...he still asked.  Bless his sweet soul.}

She said YES. 

Which brings us to this day.  When just over two years of being engaged has even the children asking, "When are we getting married?"

So she found a venue.

She found a dress. (Shhhh!~don't tell him.)

Now, if she can find two matching wedding bands she'll be all set.

:)

At one time she wanted to marry in tents beneath starry skies, in a red saree, and with everyone in attendance.  Beaches with sand would have been nice, or old expansive properties chock full of cows and chickens (seriously!). 

But she has settled on what her spirit wants the most, an outdoor wedding amidst the firs and pines, with a campfire.  Beer.  The Tragically Hip, The Weepies and Deadmau5 playing on in the background {cause she loves to boogie on down}. Loved ones.  Simplicity.  {He agrees, whole heartedly.}

So in the summer of 2011, they shall finally tie the knot.  *Tink!* here is to them not dragging their heels any longer.  {This taught them the value of waiting for things.}

xoxo

It dawned on me, there is no such thing as time.

Inside an old church they are restoring at the Citadel, Amman, Jordan. March 2010

I had the pleasure of meeting a fabulous woman through a vibrant and funny friend of mine the other day.  Powerful ideas and gifts were exchanged; simply through animated and open conversation.

I have to say I attract in the most brilliant and gifted people.  I'm so very lucky. Now as a result of this meeting, great things are going to happen!  Isn't life a gift? I'm so jazzed about it, that I'm scribbling notes..ideas..and thoughts quicker than my hand can write.

I sat in a "reflection" park today, amidst the flowers, underneath a giant pine tree that was strung with fairy lights and words carved in stone set randomly about {empathy, responsibility, integrity...}...and I simply journalled to my heart's content.  Don't you just love it when ideas flow through you like that, as though you were some divine vessel of the Universe itself?  Wait, I am a divine vessel through which the Universe speaks.  So are you!  You already knew that, I hope.

I love my little journal, it is from a small press and was a gift from a friend. In there I have story ideas, lists of things I need....BlackBerry...Macbook Air....paper lanterns...purple candles...cardamom tealights...white roses...you get the idea.  It is also full of reminders and poetry and quotes.  Journals are chunks of life in a small contained space.  Microcosm's if you will.

I'll leave you now with the most beautiful thought which I will get to after I set the scene; for 33 years I've had a close friend and just recently her classy and caring mother passed away quite suddenly.  We did the most incredibly honourable thing- we wildly scattered her ashes in a private lake side ceremony that was replete with skipping stones, picking flowers and reading poetry while mourning doves cooed at us directly overhead in the old tree by the water.  Children chased frogs, we cried and remembered, and suddenly I felt that there is no such thing as time. I was seven years old again, in the company of this funny and wonderful friend of mine. It is enchanting how symbolic it is to set someone free to the four winds, up the ashes fly and then they indeed scatter in the wind, very mystically. After a deep breath, "Mum go be free!" my friend cried, as she threw the ashes into the air.  Then later, "She would have loved that," my friend tells me.  I agreed.

Funny how a sad time can connect people together in such a poignant way. I felt so happy and honoured to have been included in their sacred and private occasion. To them I say...thank you. To you I say, that is all for today. xo

A giveaway! {in appreciation of fine music}

 

Do you like the great lighting of these ripe cherries in the Niagara Peninsula area of Ontario? {It's courtesy of Mother Nature herself.} 

We stopped to check out the grapes as well, but they still look like baby peas.  Hence for this wine region they are too tiny to stomp on as of yet.

While we were snapping pictures in this orchard, a cell phone rang on the hip of my friend.  "Kitaro," he says.  "You must get this, it is incredible."  So, here it is for you dear reader...I want you to hear this for yourself.  A mystical and timeless piece of music to hear while in the midst of nature, while surrounded by green leaves and sun and in the company of my family and a friend. My friend is a beautiful woman's "habibi"...so each time the phone went off he got a dreamy look in his eye.

I'm happy whenever someone introduces me to a new piece of music.  It is a positive thing in a sometimes negative world. Would you agree? Music can transform you.

So if you could use a little light or transformation in your world....leave a comment for me with your musical recommendation.  I will choose a winner (out of a hat!) from the comments for a $60 gift certificate for your use at any one of these online stores.  I'll choose a winner before my next post (Wednesday June 30) -so go ahead, tell me what stirs your soul musically.

xo "Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to Eternity."~ Kahlil Gibran

Juxtapositions.

Going through literally thousands of old photos.

Reminiscing about one year ago today being in the West Village with my two SIL's drinking red and eating pizza at Johns! on Bleecker. {Oh the stories we could tell you.}

But perhaps another day. :)

Julian and I spoke tonight on what fuels us.  Change.  We thrive on it.

We aren't the types to live in one house for thirty years.  We must always continue to strive for more; different and better life experiences. {That doesn't mean we don't stress about the electric bill.  We do.}

Don't be surprised if one year from now we live in Arizona or Amsterdam.  Just sayin'.

Never stop striving people.  Never.  Life is meant to deal you many "lives".  Go live 'em.

xoxox p.s. The first photo in Amman (taken seconds before the minarets bellowed the call to prayer) shows you children in Western dress passing by women in traditional dress...and there are two windows...one with freshly butchered goat and one with stuffed bears.  Hence the juxtapositons.  On our last emotion ridden day in Jordan, Christine asked us what one word we would use to sum up our time in Jordan.  I said, mystical.  {I was moved deep into my core being. Teary.}

My friend Donna said, "juxtapositions." Very accurate, miss. xo

Slowly but surely- if you stick to the road... you'll get there!

Take a stab at what this sign reads!  Any guesses? Could it be pointing to the Municipality of __________?

We all get lost sometimes, but I think the trick is to stay on the road.  At least all roads lead to Rome.  And in Rome, they have gastronomic delights and stylish citizens to gaze at.

I've had reports coming in from a certain social networking site that my postcards from Jordan are trickling in.  With postmarks dating from April 15, and April 16th.  Which is funny because I was already home for over a month when they were postmarked.  Before I taxied down the runway at this airport, I popped over 30 cards into a local post box.

Now tell me...if a New York minute is faster than the rest....what is an Ammanian minute amount to?

I suppose we could brew up some mint tea, sit and talk awhile, take a few photos then go for dinner.  That may be close to a Jordanian minute. Hence my packages and postcards...uh taking awhile. 

xo

p.s. Thanks for your suggestions in the foreign film department.  My friend and I ended up watching THIS. Pretty good, beautiful photography and a tad suspenseful. We shall work our way through your list on Monday nights.  A new and welcome tradition.
 

Tea? Why, yes please....

If I invited you in for tea, would you accept?

Would you offer my child a sweet?  Ask him his name?

Would it matter to you that my second floor was absent? Waiting patiently for the second generation to build and move their family in, according to tradition....?

  
Will your children understand the level of patience and calm that our children afford them- in the face of no video games or television to distract them....?

When you stop to breathe in our landscape, will you allow us our space? That in which we have not built up in the name of commerce or gain?  We have precious things to offer the world that don't involve competing with larger cities or countries....!  We hold our own, thank you.

Would you join us for herbal tea?  Perchance in places where famous people were taking steps in their own journeys?  Tea with mint never tasted so nice!  Oh and beautiful Israel is just 15 feet away.  However, do not veer off the provided path, for land mines are located any which way, and cameras are trained on your every step-so going off the path could mean any number of troubles for you!  We are in a military zone, you see. (It is for your own protection, dear friends.)

My goodness the river is cold.  COLD.  See page 157 of the April 2010 National Geographic to see just exactly where a certain group of travellers stood, not three weeks ago.

If you feel enough at home then please accept our hospitality.  We'll be insulted if you do not. 

So-one lump or two? It would seem that in Jordan, sugar in your tea is the norm.  It is expected.  So if this sounds like your kind of place, do visit and stay for tea.  You won't regret a single moment of it.  xo

As usual click to enlarge the photos.  However, the shot of the little girl at Petra was out of focus, but she was so cute I couldn't stand not posting her, so forgive the photographers blunder. :)