seventy-three

today...
the skies were bright 

the sun was warm

my heart was light.

soaked it all in with
a long walk and

a big smile.

 and then...

home to my mailbox to find my *gift of jewels* waiting for me. 

what an absolute delight!  

many thanks to beverly for the most lovely and thoughtful little gifts.

and to se'lah for organizing this wonderful exchange.  

i really, really enjoyed the entire thing.  

the one i crafted was received recently too and the sweet recipient posted about it here.

the simplest things can bring such happiness...

and lastly...

this past week has been full of artistic inspiration.

sparking and sparkling inside.

a dear friend who makes exquisitely beautiful music

came to visit from far away.

we dove deep into conversations and spent some

thrilling time in the studio, sharing and improvising and planting

the seedlings for this new piece.

a true honor and joy to be embarking on this collaboration.

i feel alive and awake.

cannot wait to see what happens next.

seventy-two

 inspiration...

seventy-one

glimpses of new york

seventy

left my heart...

sixty-nine (love songs)

got to see a band i really, really love play last night
the magnetic fields
it was one of the most somber live music experiences
beautiful but sad
with a little bit of laughter
very much like their songs
and it makes me think about being an artist
the wonderful responsibility of seeing the world
filtering it through our hearts
and giving it all back
stephin merritt sees a rather bleak and broken-hearted world
and though i don't always see it that way
i do
some of the time
and i'm thankful for the poignant, poetic
reflections these songs offer

"I'm afraid of the dark without you close to me
I went out to the forest and caught
A hundred thousand fireflies
As they ricochet round the room
They remind me of your starry eyes
Someone else's might not have made me so sad
But this is the worst night I ever had"

~100,000 fireflies by the Magnetic Fields

sixty-eight

winter sunshine
waiting for a storm
cozy and calm
and thankful
and dreaming

sixty-seven

"happiness exists
in action
in telling the truth
and saying what your truth is
and in
giving away
what you want the most"

~~eve ensler