Simply a picture ~

Valentine's day 2012

....hoping your day was filled with the feeling of being fully loved. 

Blue in my eyes ~ Blue Monday

Healing thoughts sent out to Sally - who has had a happy place on the web for those that see Beautiful Blues in their world ~ 

I Want Both Of Us

I want both of us

To start talking about this great love

As if you, I, and the Sun were all married

And living in a tiny room,

Helping each other to cook,

Do the wash,

Weave and sew,

Care for our beautiful

Animals.

We all leave each morning

To labor on the earth's field.

No one does not lift a great pack.

I want both of us to start singing like two

Travelling minstrels

About this extraordinary existence

We share,

As if

You, I, and God were all married

And living in

A tiny

Room.

-- Hafiz

Tying the Japanese Honeysuckle, named "Tracy" by Sofia Mae

Magical moments watching the honey bees

105 square feet of love

Sustenance Sunday ~

~
From last weeks sponge starter batch, I made whole wheat bread with oats and walnuts, walnut scallion baguettes and fig-walnut bread.  The first two were almost a straight take from recipes in Amy's Bread baking book.  Though I didn't get the nice airy holes in the end result with the baguettes, it was a tasty bread.  It made three loaves, one frozen.  The baguette did not freeze well, even being in the freezer only less than a week.   The walnut-scallion bread was nice split lengthwise, brushed with olive oil, a dash of kosher salt and broiled to toasty, then rubbed with fresh garlic.  :)  The whole wheat sandwich bread was only frozen three days, and it did just wonderful for toast.  It was particularly tasty with jam or honey - kid approved.

Beauty

Buried in the earth, a kernel of wheat

is transformed into tall stalks of grain.
Crushed in the mill, its value increases and it becomes bread, invigorating to the soul.
Ground in the teeth, it becomes spirit, mind, and the understanding of reason;
Lost in Love, that spirit delights the sowers after the sowing.

- Rumi

Outdoor Wednesday ~

January 19th, 2011   8:34a.

My moment of morning gratitude

Now I'll be quiet and let silence separate what is true from what are lies as threshing does.

  -- Rumi

Christmas eve gratitude ~

...that I know and choose Love.

Chill December bring the sleet,

Blazing fire and Christmas treat.

-Mother Goose

 Backward, turn backward

O Time in your flight;

Make me a child again

Just for tonight

- Elizabeth Akers Allen

~ Two snuggled in a corner ~

Simply pictures ~

 One kind word can warm three winter months --

Japanese proverb

Lavender on Blue Monday ~

Precious beauty

I cut back my three lavender plants a few weeks ago, saving a handful of stalks to make a bouquet to give.  The plants aren't big at all, only basketball size.  They are precious beauty to me, as their home in the earth surrounding them is the only garden area I've been able to make - a small narrow strip on the street side of our home.  Little as it is, it give me great joy.  I hope the other three small plants I put in this year come back as the other three did about four years ago.  Marking time ~


This is the first and only lavender bouquet I have made so far.  There is one faint blue bud in it, which made me smile - it barely shows up in the pictures, but I will count that as good enough for Blue Monday.  If you click on the horizontal picture, I believe it's visible.  There is a chance that belief is only in my head.  :)

As I was wrapping the ribbon, I wondered what lavender means in flower language.  I already knew the destination of the bouquet, so I was looking forward to looking up the meaning, whatever it would be, it would be telling or appropriate or ironic.  Isn't that the way all messages are?

Lavender meaning.

In a box

Gratitude moment ~

November 25th, 2010

Those who don't feel this Love
pulling them like a river,
those who don't drink down
like a cup of spring water
or take in sunset like supper,
those who don't want to change,

let them sleep.

This Love is beyond the study of theology,
that old trickery and hypocrisy.
If you want to improve your mind that way

sleep on.

I've given up on my brain.
I've torn the cloth to shreds
and thrown it away.

If you're not completely naked,
wrap your beautiful robe of words
around you,

and sleep.

-Rumi

Decisions ~

Choices.  Warmer times.

 

It happens all the time in Heaven,

And some day

It will begin to happen

Again on earth --

That men and women who are married,

And men and men who are

Lovers,

And women and women

Who give each other

Light

Often will get down on their knees

And while so tenderly

Holding their lover's hand,

With tears in their eyes,

Will sincerely speak, saying,

"My dear,

How can I be more loving to you;

How can I be more

Kind?" 

--Hafiz

Love in Boo-city ~

It can start with a few...

If happiness is present, then more will join....

Pretty soon more will join the energy....

It's not surprising to find one now and then....

There is usually a "non-conformist"...

He just wants to be loved like everyone else....

There is usually a negative soul, but that is okay, too....

Happiness will lead the way....

Love is always moving forward....

Happy-happy Boo Love!!!

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/chocolate-graham-cracker-cupcake-with-toasted-marshmallow 

 

Great color in the hood ~

Yes, this is it.  Simply a nice patina.

February 14th, 2010

Simply pictures ~

A donation for a holiday fundraiser.



























A three layer cake consisting of one layer of hazelnut cake sandwiched between two layers of fudge cake. Praline buttercream inside, dressed in chocolate ganache, accented with bittersweet chocolate dough leaves.