inspirations, october 3

nancy pelosi

this post and this post by the brave and wicked smart jen lemen

the delightful first episode of "pushing daisies"

daydreaming about a vacation

fall days spent in my "office clothes"

the textures, colors, and names of jen's jewelry

the burst of energy that follows days of procrastination

inspirations, september 23

the photos irene shares on her blog

time spent with a "blog world now dear real world friend" at the tacoma art museum (check out deb's post about day together)

spending sunday mornings with charles osgood (especially today's flashback about marcel marceau)

kindness

mugs of J. Garcia magic herb tea

the quirky world that is Season 3 of "Northern Exposure"

sketching ideas and making lists in my moleskine

inspirations, september 12

elizabeth edwards

the artwork of annie lockhart, especially this necklace

the newest issue of romantic homes

this honest post by futuregirl alice

This print and other artwork by Nathaniel Eckstrom

the hint of fall in the air

the songs of the dixie chicks (again and again)

remember

One of my favorite artists is Brian Andreas (if you do not know his work, stop reading and head over to www.storypeople.com and explore; right now). His words, his poetry, his stories, are a gift to me in their simple, deep truths. We have several of his prints and a few sculptures in our art collection. Pausing to read his stories that adorn our walls is part of my sacred life.

Early on when we were dating, Jon and I visited a shop that had Andreas' work and I was able to introduce Jon to a favorite past time: looking through all the prints to discover which one resonates deeply on that day. The story that day was "Real Reason," and days later Jon drove 90 minutes back to that shop in Valparaiso, Indiana to buy it for me as a "two-month dating" anniversary present.

A few months later, weeks before we became engaged, we had the opportunity to meet Brian Andreas at a signing and we bought the sculpture of "Real Reason." As we handed it to him to sign, he said, "who do I make it out to" and without asking each other, together Jon and I said, "Liz and Jon." He looked at us and said something like, "that's a big commitment;" in a way, it kind of felt like we got engaged in that moment.

Of course, the truth is that my Storypeople collection began years before I met Jon. I wrote about my first introduction to them here. I remember reading the stories aloud in the car with my mom and coming to "Fog People" and pausing and reading it again and again. I love that story and my mom gave the sculpture to me as a college graduation present. I wouldn't say that I think of it as a test when I show people the sculpture, but I always giggle a bit when people say, "but I don't get it." Another favorite print that hangs alone in our hallway so that you pause to read it is "Crayon Pirate." The simple wise truth of a child's world – that is what that story says to me.

Last week, I spent some time clicking around the stories at the website and the two stories that speak so deeply to me in this moment of my life are "Whales" and "More Fair." I hope to one day add those stories to my collection.

When the events of September 11, 2001 happened, I found myself, like so many others, trying to find something to help me wrap my brain around what had happened and the grief and helplessness. Sitting in my office one evening a week or so after the eleventh, I turned to the Storypeople website, seeking the wise words of Brian Andreas, and found that he had written a story to commemorate 9/11. The story is "Awakening." At the time, Storypeople was selling the story as a poster with the proceeds going to raise money for the people affected on that day. I bought ten planning to share them with others. And after framing one for myself and giving a few away, I did what I do best, I put them someplace and forgot.

As we have been organizing and cleaning and all that stuff over the last few weeks, I came across my carefully rolled up posters of "Awakening."

I am wondering if any of you reading this might want one. I have five and would be happy to mail one to you. Please just send me an email at waywardtulip at gmail dot com and let me know. UPDATED: The posters have all been claimed. Thank you...

Many blessings to all on this day,
Liz

inspirations, august 27

this bill moyer's interview with jon stewart (i heart jon stewart)

fresh flowers on the kitchen table

dusting (yes, dusting)

letting go of stuff (in all forms)

the poetry thursday archives

the in my hand flickr group

the quiet truth in this post by alicia