emptiness

today is absolutely delightful as there is NOTHING (as in not a thing) written on my calendar nor my to-do list.  It is empty. I did check my work email once this morning and since have devoted the day to sloth...ie, watching old movies and cleaning/scouring cupboards and closets.  I make the happiest of hermits....if I could only figure out how to make money in solitude, it would be grand.

Happily found two pennies on my walk and two birthday coupons in the mail.

Seattle snippets

Iconic shot.

California olives came in the mail!

 And are now marinating in their brine.

And happily, we all get an extra hour of slumber tonight!!!

this moment of marvel

This is not the first day of November (as stated in the poem), nor is it remotely approaching cold.  I've had my sweaters and scarves out and ready for weeks and was out walking in a t-shirt and shorts this morning.

But today's sunrise was stellar enough to make me happy that I was up to see it.

On this first day of November
it is cold as a cave,
the sky the color
of neutral third parties.
I am cutting carrots
for the chicken soup.
Knife against carrot
again and again
sends a plop of pennies
into the pan.
These cents,
when held to the gray light,
hold no noble president,
only stills
of some kaleidoscope
caught being pensive...
and beautiful,
in the eye of this beholder,
who did not expect
this moment of marvel
while making an early supper
for the hungry children.


"Monday" by Cindy Gregg, from Suddenly Autumn. © Wordplay Press, 2010. Reprinted with permission.

 I choose this poem both for the kick-off to November and for it's penny mention....however, today's street gift was a dime.

I'm running out of adjectives to describe the views and the weather this week, so I shall stop and simply allow you to enjoy to scenery.  These photos do not convey the breath-gasping that occurs when one walks around the corner and sees the autumn leaves or the glance out the window that yields the sunrise colours.

Mt. Baker

Happy Friday, happy November.

the simple things

"My loathings are simple:  stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music." 
Nabokov

My choir members will know which of these rings false for me!

another cup o' coffee

"Five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes
Five hundred, twenty-five thousand moments so dear,
Five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes,
How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets,
in midnights, in cups of coffee,
in inches, in miles,
in laughter, in strife.

In five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes
How do you measure a year in the life?"

Jonathan Larsen

democracy

I did the absentee ballot option this year; not as much fun as going to the neighborhood polling place, but I still get a thrill every time I vote.  I hadn't planned this, but am finally watching the HBO series on John Adams and am finding it rather inspiring on the eve of elections; and find that it presents the complexities of government in a compelling manner.

bewitched

Yes, I realize that it is now November, but this is how my All Hallow's Eve began...

and ended....