five (really) good things
the realness of our moments . january 31
even though i am feeling a bit buried in all that is, i am taking time to notice what is so beautiful and true about this moment right now:
1) today (for the first time), i played with the timer on my camera to capture ellie jane and me. not sure why i waited this long as it was so much fun. she was captivated by the sound of the timer so most of the photos had her turning to look just as it clicked, but i love this one. letting go of the negative self-talk about how i am not wearing makeup or didn't shower or how the list goes one. instead, really loving the idea that every photo i take will become clues to ellie, jon, and me (and ellie's children if she has any and so on) about this time in our lives. every photo becomes a clue.
2) the delightful marilyn (one of my first blog world friends) has an interview series she shares at la salonnierre, and she asks the best questions! i am so happy to be answering a few this week. you can read the interview here, including my poem note about how indiana still lives in me.
3) so i was in the winter issue of Artful Blogging. seriously. i can't believe i haven't mentioned it before now because it is basically one of those creative dreams come true. [my name on a cover of a magazine. w.o.w.] last week, ellie and i went to borders and discovered they still had a few copies. (a few people have asked me where to find it, so you might check your local borders; however, the spring issue will be out soon.)
4) the beana is sitting up. just like that. she went from sitting up for seconds at a time to playing by herself for five minutes without falling over. i am kind of amazed by her every single day.
5) the sky was blue today. blue. when we took millie out, ellie and i spotted chickadees, nuthatches, so many round junkos, and a hummingbird. there are buds on the cherry tree. people ask me why they should come to the pacific northwest for a retreat in february or march? because those cherry trees will be blooming. (i think about so many of you about to be buried in snow, and i send you the hope that you can take a moment or two to soak in the beauty of wherever you are.)
*****
and how about you? tell me five (really) good things about your world.
(dare you)
five (really) good things in make a list.
Reader Comments (20)
Love this post. Love that you used that timer to capture that first image - so totally special. Love the whole concept of this post and will done one later this week - thanks for the inspiration.
one being this post and your writing - you always amaze me and make me smile.
two being my new laptop, I know...but it's so cool and it's got a purple cover!
three being the 11 necklace I finally received in the mail from YOU and I absolutely love it and I'm done feeling silly for picking 11 as my word of the year :)
four being that dinnertime and bedtime with my girls tonight was actually really fun, light and wonderful. i sat at the dinner table with Kadison ...all by ourselves and told her about my day and then she told me about hers. Truly a beautiful exchange that I will remember forever.
five being the fact that I will be moving into an ART STUDIO this week - a dream of mine forever! I still can't really believe it to be true. But I am pinching myself and it's true!
thank you for letting me tell you about the magic moments going on in my life, it's good to acknowledge them and notice how important they really are.
xoxo
1* that photo of you and Ellie (seriously, it's wonderful) and your interview...i love what you shared.
2* sunny weather...60 here today...woot!
3* random discoveries at the library...like Melanie Gideon's "The Slippery Year - A Meditation on Happily Ever After"
4* improvising a solution to something that threw me for a loop and being happy with the result
5* watching Cyrus...a quirky little film with wonderful performances (especially John C. Reilly)
1. Blue skies and sunshine. Okay, I know that's two, but they go so well together don't they?
2. Seeing so many of our amazing friends during this trip home to NZ
3. Having my submission accepted for this months Words To Shoot By prompt
4. Yellow. Just because.
5. A creative venture that is going to test me to the edges of my belief in myself.
1. seeing that photograph of the two of you girls. so wonderful, it really is.
2. i've been invited to do a residency in breckinridge, colorado for two weeks in september at The Tin Shop.
3. i've spent the past four days here in alabama with my folks, extended the trip by one day and now two.
4. i saw The King's Speech on saturday and am going back with my sister tomorrow, it is that good. and colin firth is incredible. and that is also one reason why i extended my stay.
5. my sister turned sixty today. i am forever grateful to have her, to have a sister. xo
1. Hubby is actually going to make it home tonight (vs. sleeping in the airport in Denver).
2. Purring cat on my lap right now.
3. Space heaters.
4. Went through a bunch of paperwork tonight. Nice to see a pile get smaller
5. Pay day!
-I spent the afternoon being interviewed by a med student. It's a program run by the UBC medical department. I do it because I have the opportunity to teach future doctors about the value of listening skills, treating patients like human beings instead of diagnosis and the impact having an incurable, life altering disease (MS) has on someone's life. They get to ask questions and I get to share my truth. I love mentoring-it always makes me feel good in whatever capacity I do it-health, art, life...it's the sharing and serving that I enjoy. (And it turned out that this future doctor grew up in a small town that was a big part of my childhood. Kismet!)
-My son asked me to go to the movies with him tonight. We saw 127 Hours. It was really good. It was a thought provoking movie and I'll be mulling it over for awhile, I think.
-Connecting with someone through Vivienne's class. It was true kismet and it's so good to have a new friend, who kind of feels like an old friend.
-Words with Friends & Scrabble, both of which I am playing with two of my closest friends, both named Lisa, one lives in NZ . We're playing pretty much non-stop. It's good fun.
-The anticipation of how good it's going to feel to fall into bed tonight and snuggle up under the quilts.
Five really good things in my little piece of Melbourne...
1. A sweet breeze bringing the cool change through my house.
2. My little girl galloping around the house wearing a paper crown I made her, declaring she is the "king"!
3. The two of us touching various things to see if they will turn to gold. Turns out, she is not King Midas.
4. Succulent slices of watermelon.
5. Friends cancelling catch-ups scheduled for the next few days. That might sound a little odd: I was really looking forward to catching up (and they each had good reasons for postponing), but suddenly my diary looks like a blank slate and that feels quite freeing!
PS Loving the joy in your face in that photo, Liz!
Five really good things in a time of change ...
laughter in a time of suffering.
generosity from unexpected people.
meeting some knock out 80 year women who rock.
Being nurtured and looked after by my "foodie" bro-in-law who cooks up fine food.
Being inspired by the women in my life who are meeting me where I am.
Good morning, Liz and Ellie,
Love the picture of you two together. And thank you for what you said about not worrying about those things that could stop you from taking the pictures. It gives me the push I need to take some pics with my kids. I've been thinking about it but that negative self-talk comes in and stops me. Well, not anymore! Today the timer will be put to use :)
Ellie, I'm sending you a big high-five. Way to master the unsupported sit, sister!
Hope you two have a lovely day.
Here are some things that are rocking my world this morning:
1. Coffee. Ha! It was a rough night wit Jack (almost 9 months old and still waking up a LOT)
2. Jack's smile.
3. Knowing a big snow storm is heading this way, feeling cozy inside.
4. The health of my little family.
5. Inspiration. Here, and in other lovely spaces on the internet :)
Since I've very much enjoyed reading each and every one of your posts for the last couple of weeks, since I found you, I think I would like to play along today... Five really good things
1. the fire in our fireplace, that heats our home, is roaring and keeping us toasty despite the snow falling outside
2. my recently created dream boards are sitting on the mantel gently reminding me that peace and calm are mine at all times
3. I got a nice loaf of french bread yesterday for bruscetta tonight. I can't wait
4. I am actually excited about diving into my work today!
5. The world feels more open and welcoming thanks to posts like yours to read each morning. Thank you. :)
my 5 in this moment:
1. receiving + responding to this invitation/dare from gorgeous you* {so grateful for you + your voice}
2. listening to a cassette tape of "calobo"
3. the shawl wrapped around my neck + shoulders {a hand + heart-made "comfort" gift, given to me nearly 5 years ago}
4. the clear white wired twinkle lights are turned on
5. receiving the invitation to rest deeply as i sit with the sickies {trusting in the re-calibration that is happening}
1)reading your book!
2) also reading this......"Tribes" by seth godin
3)we are in the process of opening a working studio with a showroom/retail space!
4)the love of my furry babies zen and lucy
5)new friends........
i could keep going........every day is a new begining and we are lovin life.
one: being home safe & sound during this snow/ice storm in northern nj
two: the love of my BFF ellen
three: the positive spirit of all those in my life who are battling cancer- they are an inspiration!
four: the great food i stocked up on from the kosher nosh-- yum
five: warmth- from all sources
liz as always, thank you for sharing & daring me/us to be who are! xo
oh yes! I've been meaning to say congrats! re: your Artful Blogging bit! i recently found a store in my city that sells it..and spent like $75 on past editions - oh my! But I was so excited to see your pictures. 5 things good in my world: a heated car garage (in -30 Celsius weather!), a xmas cactus that is blooming for the second time, an amazingly supportive partner, a stable job that allows me to take holidays in Feb, Mar and April, and my amazing spinning instructor. :) Cute self-portrait, by the way.
1. Good Books - Like the one I am reading now. There is nothing better than climbing into bed each night and reading a few pages before falling asleep.
2. Slippers - Even though the last few days haven't been too cold, I love having something warm on my feet.
3. Friends - Finding a connection with a new friend :) and knowing they see you, and that they love you just as you are.
4. Digital Cameras - You can never take too many photos...any "mistakes" can always be deleted later.
5. Siblings - I read a quote once that said "Siblings are the people we practice on" and my brother has taught me so much about life. I am so grateful.
xoxo - Carrie
Love this picture of you and Ells.
5.
Re: Your #1: You look dang cute in this photo, and if you're unshowered, we have no way of knowing it.
An abundance of abundance here! This is mine:
1. I don't consider myself an artist by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm participating in an art workshop online and loving it.
2. Ukulele lessons. Seriously. So much fun. (Not weird here because I'm at the beach and there are 18 in the class.) I can now play "Don't Worry, Be Happy."
3. My 7 year old son. He is head over heels in love with me. I know it won't always be this way. But I will always be in love with him.
4. "The Book of Awakening" by Mark Nepo, which I am currently reading. Beautiful and inspiring.
5. My husband and I watched "When Harry Met Sally" tonight, and I still love it.
I love that picture of you and your daughter. Beautiful. Joyful.
1. My seven months baby girl, she's my numer one in everything
2. A catchdreamer necklace I got in december as a Christmas gift, it's lovely.
3. I love that my baby already says papa (daddy) I would loved to hear her say mama instead as her first word but it's awesome to hear her tiny charming voice and get a clue as how it's going to sound.
4. The sound the crickets make at night.
5. Backstreet Boys
loved this so much i did my own blog post about it. wanted to share: http://fwd4.me/v8u
thanks for the inspiration and thanks for just being you. <3