grey, but cosy

Oh yes, tis January in Seattle.

But there are still pennies to be found and tasty treats to be devoured.  Found a slab of halvah at Pike's Market this weekend while out with a cousin.

and new kitchen toys to test out

wintry poetry

With the icy city rain slanting into the window, this seems an appropriate poem for the day.  However, tis cosy inside with opera playing on the stereo, a penny found, and an experimental frittata scenting the flat with garlic, mushrooms and basil.  Happy Friday!

You Are Happy

by Margaret Atwood

The water turns
a long way down over the raw stone,
ice crusts around it

We walk separately
along the hill to the open
beach, unused
picnic tables, wind
shoving the brown waves, erosion, gravel
rasping on gravel.

In the ditch a deer
carcass, no head. Bird
running across the glaring
road against the low pink sun.

When you are this
cold you can think about
nothing but the cold, the images

hitting into your eyes

cent of lightness

an Epiphany penny found

pragmatic blessings

With some Christmas monies and a nice dealer discount, I was able to put two brand new tires on my car today.  As I've been hydroplaning and fishtailing all over the county for the past few weeks, this is a huge blessing!  2010 is beginning to look up.  (Read the funniest editorial about the arguments over how to pronounce this year--is it twenty-ten or two-thousand-ten?  Mainly a discussion at the university level for this spring's commencements.)

Sunday poetry!

As I missed Friday's poetic celebration, thought I'd post something interesting today.  I've been reading this one for almost a week, chewing and pondering upon it, since it arrived in my email from Garrison.

Eleven Addresses to the Lord

by John Berryman

Sole watchman of the flying stars, guard me
against my flicker of impulse lust: teach me
to see them as sisters & daughters. Sustain
my grand endeavours: husbandship & crafting.

Forsake me not when my wild hours come;
grant me sleep nightly, grace soften my dreams;
achieve in me patience till the thing be done,
a careful view of my achievement come.

Make me from time to time the gift of the shoulder.
When all hurt nerves whine shut away the whiskey.
Empty my heart toward Thee.
Let me pace without fear the common path of death.

Cross am I sometimes with my little daughter:
fill her eyes with tears: Forgive me, Lord.
Unite my various soul,
sole watchman of the wide & single stars.

three coins, no fountain

Three pennies found today.  Yes, the tree is still up; we're only on the 8th day of Christmas.  A lovely little baskets of treats was delivered as well as this....

But the biggest treat of today, and possibly this month was this gorgeous painting done by my cousin!!

Stack of Books by Cheryl Ratcliff is hanging out with my stack of books for the evening.

chocolate cheesecake bars

my flat smells divinely of dark, deep chocolate cheesecake bars; a fitting way to kick off a new year.  My only kevetch is that somehow I purchased strawberry (what a travesty) candy canes.  Why would anyone make another flavor except peppermint? And I oughtn't complain too loudly as there is a grocer's just an elevator ride away. 

Guess I ought to clarify for those who didn't read my old blog....you're to crush up the candy canes and sprinkle them on top of these bars for a nice crunch and contrast to the, yes it must be said, velvety chocolate goodness of the bars.