Happy Heart

Image by Lel4nd via FlickrI love this quote by Maya Angelou. A roommate gave it to me on a card way back when. I use to keep the card on my desk. All these years it still has a deep meaning for me.

The happy heart runs with the river, floats on the air, lifts to the music, soars with the eagle, hopes with the prayer. -Maya Angelou

Hope you have a swell weekend and a lovely Halloween(as scary or tame as you like).
peace and love,
k

A Sweet Pea List

Life has been crazy. I can scarcely hold on to my hat these days. However, I realized I have been list-less for a while.
I like list for a number of reasons. Mainly because they keep me in line(when they are to-do/task oriented) or grateful.

My Sweet Pea List is a bit on the long side but I am trying to get the whole of Fall in here.
Sweet Peas in Fall
- I had a lovely weekend this fall with my friend, T. She's a fellow texan/kentucky transplant.
- Took a lovely walk downtown with M.
- Finally managed to talk with B. She is the most awesome kindred spirit.
- Game night. Thanks, R. for your idea. Love some silliness.
-Boxed Wine(but the good stuff). I am shocked I like it, too. I am not talking about that certain box wine we all hate but about other box wines that are actually quite good. Thanks, J. for the heads up.
- The leaves are turning. There's nothing like Kentucky is spring and fall. It's simple gourgeous.
- Sock shopping with B.(another one). Socks are so underrated.
-Mary's Magnificent. Such a enduring prayer for me at this time.
- Bread baking.

- Seeing the dracula ballet but thinking I was going to see an opera. Priceless.
- Top Chef Just Deserts. Now, I know that pastry people are insane and it makes me feel better about my lack of skills. JK!!
- Tofu scramble from Amy's. Not usually a fan of tofu but this was so good. Naturally on a student budget imitation is the best form of flattery.If you hate tofu, use eggs(or something else). Once, I cooked mine with eggs and it was yum-o.
-John Legend and the Roots new album. I have not liked any R&B/hip-hop(save Alica Keyes) in a long time. I could go off on a social politcal discourse about that but honestly-I've missed the old school stuff. Yeah, for this throwback album.
-Tights, boots and skirts. Fall is so perfect for this outfit.
-Watching the rising sun out my window. It never gets old.
-Seeing a tons of birds migrating yesterday. It truly felt never ending(in a good way).
-Eating cookies with the girls at work.
-Finding some halfway decent lactose free cheese. Thanks, B. I'll always love Vermont white sharp cheddar but it just doesn't love me :)
-Scarves! They are so fun.

-Massage bars from Lush . Is this a start of an addiction?
-My friend, P.'s birthday. She's a super duper awesome mother, activist and wonder-woman.
-Not trying to be responsible for others happiness but helping to increase it when I can. This is very hard and constant struggle but worth it to try.
-Finally taking my recycling out. I am ashamed to say how bad it was but now its in the handy blue container and I have my kitchen floor back.
-P.M. and J.J. for being so generous with their time and hearts when I was in need of guidance.
-Countless people, minutes and hours that over the course of this fall have made life so rich and beautiful.
-The quietness of the early morning. Mornings are so sexy and sublime.

-The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth.  ~Chinese Proverb

photos- me from various times/places in the year.

Another Dose of Love(or Love X 3)

via here

via here

via here

The way to love someone is to lightly run your finger over that person's soul until you find a crack, and then gently pour your love into that crack. --Keith Miller

An Ode to Writing(or Why I like the Sound of Paper)

The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.  ~Anaïs Nin


Today, my heart is all over place. What keeps me sane is the words on this page. I have never been a disciplined writer or particularly skilled but I have always enjoyed it.

My relationship to writing has shifted over the years. When I was younger, I would write short stories, poems and songs. My siblings and I would perform these songs or I would sing them alone in my room. I really wanted to be a songwriter for country songs. I like a sad song and I figure the work would be steady in the country music market.Unfortunately, I'm not kidding.

Then in college, I wanted to be a poet. I wrote volumes of poetry. To my own latter embarrassment, some of these poems have seen the light of day because I submitted them places that never throw away anything.

There was a period of 3 or 4 years when all I had were my morning pages off and on. More off than on. During this time, my relationship to writing has been torn apart by my own unwillingness to realize how much I love words.

I know people write for all sorts of reason-love, vanity, publication, hope, understanding, etc. I write for all those reason, too. However, I mainly write because I can. I write because I must. If I had one goal in this I would say, I write to put me on paper. I write to say I've been there and here I am. It is not noble or classy but it is true.

My heart is always muddled in words.My words, your words, unspoken words and I write to claim those words, to listen to them and to soak fragments of moments. Sometimes, I forget myself. I forget my hopes, my dreams and my heart but writing brings me back.



photo 1 : saturated writing via tnarick
photo 2: write via spaceamoeba
photo 3: desk via Yos Wiranata

Love, again

Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk everything, you risk even more. --Erica Jong

Rumi on Love

Image by K. Kendall via Flickr

Love with no object, conversation with no subject, seeing with no image, light on light, pure possibility.

-Rumi: The Book of Love(Coleman Barks)

A Little Plant Love

Image via WikipediaHappy vegetarian awareness month.

No, I'm not a vegetarian but I am aware of that. Currently, I am an omnivore but I do take what Michael Pollan said about food to heart. -"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Naturally, that looks different for everyone.

Anyway, I have been pursing the veggie world, developing a slight veggie crush on chef Bryant Terry and gaining a lot of insight and appreciation for the veggie way of life.

Since I am blabbing on about veggies-thought I would share some of my favorite meatless ideas. This is really simple and elemental stuff. I am not a fancy cook any day of the week. So, don't expect to be awed. I am a snack and sandwich sorta girl.

The links will take you to places that have similar recipes to the ones I would use if I had recipes. I confess I just throw things together. Sometimes, it works and sometimes it doesn't.
Plus, these are not labor intensive nor do they(for the most part) involve anything that most omnivores don't already have laying around the kitchen.

This is my what-would-eat-on-the-regular if I was a meatless person. Although, with the exception of the tamales, I do eat all these things on a regular but you get the idea.

L's List of Simple Meatless Meal Ideas
Blacks beans and rice-this just touches my little Texas heart! Throw a little dash of salsa in and I am in heaven.

Orzo salad. Orzo is so fun to cook with. It is very fast and has great flavor.

Tomato Pie or No Cheese Pizza. As a lactose intolerant person cheese is my friendeme. So, cheese-less, pizzas are amazing. Amy's has a lovely version if you don't want to make your own.

Lentil Tacos. Honestly, I've used all sorts of beans but I can see why you would go with lentils.

Avocado sandwiches. This recipe calls for sunflower seed, I think that is not for me. Note, avocados typically suck when they are not in season.

Tamales. Had some of these at a friend's house. A bit labor intensive but grabs some friends and make it a party. This recipe uses some cheese! We all know that tamales do taste good with good cheese but if your lactose or vegan you can substitute with vegan cheese(if you dare) or eat at your own risk.

No matter what you eat(or don't eat) be respectful of other people's choices to eat what they like. Therefore, respect your food decisions but also respect other people's food preferences. Eat wisely but act kindly.

peace and love,
k

Sweat Peas

Sweet Peas from the Week of October 4th
-Cool mornings and sunny days. The best of both worlds.
-Honey Crisp apples.
-I did my morning pages everyday. Yeah!
-A.'s off to the big city to follow her dream. I am so proud of you dear.
-Quiet mornings.
-Down comforters. I need mine for the cool mornings.
-The resilience of the human heart. We are made to LOVE. I love this quote by Susan Piver-"when love is present, it quells outer, inner, and secret obstacles and you are reminded that your heart is absolutely indestructible."
-Tea breaks. What would I do without those?
-This post just made me happy.
-This super poppy mix . POP music makes me so happy.

I hope you have had a week of ease and goodness. In piecing the fragments of sweetness, I am realizing that in any circumstance, we can be grateful and open to grace. Things are as they need to be! This moment is delicious and wanting for nothing.
Peace,
k

Open Hand

Image by Rick E Dick via FlickrLet me tell you about of my friends. He is someone who refuses to settle. He lets go of things-bad jobs, people with sketchy boundaries, ill-fitting clothes and binge shopping. It seems to me that he makes room for possibility by not living out of scarcity.

Also, he will wait until he finds the perfect grey coat before buying ten mediocre ones. This is not something I am NOT good at-waiting or leaving. I always want to know the next step and have it mapped out before I will leap.

On some level, I never think there is enough and if I don't keep what I have I may not get anything. I get it- I live out of scarcity sometimes. My hand is curled tight as a ball and I don't want to budge. There is something to be said for self-protection but sometimes it does me in.How many times have I been stressed out of protecting "what I have" and realize I don't even want what I am hanging on so tightly to?

David Wilcox has a wonderful song called Open Hand. The chrous goes-

She can feel the wind right now/Wash away her tracks and plans/If you really want to live this life/Gotta hold it with an open hand.

Hmm, that is something to soak in and ponder. What would it be like to live with the possibility of abundance rather than always waiting for the other shoes to drop?

I think I will always be pragmatic and that is not something I want to change. I just wish to stop holding on so tightly because life really is good.It doesn't always have to be a fight for the scraps. I can open my hands and breathe(if only for a second)!

Have a great weekend
Peace,
k

P.S. Here two things on my radar. The Appalachia Rising March against Mountain Top Removal and this recipe for apple coleslaw. Never been a big fan of coleslaw but it's growing on me.

Wishcasting Wednesday

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Today on Wishcasting Wednesday, Jamie asked, "Where do you wish to grow in confidence?

That's a loaded question. I guess I would have to say, I would like to be more confident about my future.

I would like to believe that good things are going to come my way. However, I would like to know that I can handle the upsets.

I want to be confident in my ability to adapt to change and deal with uncertainty. I know life will never be perfect but I want to be confident in my dreams and that failure and missteps won't destroy me or my dreams.

I would like to have faith that I will be given the time, the faces and the resources that I need to have the kind of life my heart desire. I want to be confident in my desires for the future and if they are off track, I want to be confident that I can and will be led along the way.

I am an internal optimistic and I do believe that things work out for the best. I want to be confident that the "best" does not mean according to my plan and when things go array, its not the end of the world. I can recover, I can rest, I can feel what I need to and move on.

I want to be confident in my optimism and realistic about the work, time and love things will take to bloom. I think that will only boost my confidence.

Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.

- Peter McIntyre

photo: me

Things to Do to Pick Your Spirits Up

Today, I needed a spirit booster about mid-morning. I suppose that is why you should never count your happiness chickens before they hatch.

Decided to write a quick list on small things to do to perk myself up. Simple things really. It was actually quite therapeutic.

1. Stop and breathe. Try to notice a few things in your immediate surroundings. All you have is this present moment-notice it, particulate in.
2. Give to someone else. Give your time, a parking spot(hard to do, I know), or a hardy hug. Random acts of kindness not only tend to brighten the other person's day but yours, too. The other day, I saw some kids walking around dressed crazy and giving free hugs. It was lovely to watch.
3. Visit a sacred place. The library, the bathroom, the chapel on campus or the corner in the sun. Go some place, sit down and count your blessings. If you can't get to your sacred place, then imagine it for a moment. See yourself there.
4. Listen to upbeat music. Sometimes, if we are in a bad mood or music can add to the buzz kill. Listening to neutral sounds or happy songs tend to make me feel better. If there is singing and dancing involved with my listening I am sure to feel lighter.
5. Embrace what you feel for a moment. Don't stay there but know that it is okay to fall apart. Sometimes we run from our feelings. However, the truth is our feeling rarely break us as bad as we imagine. I think it is staying in the feeling rather than feeling them that is the trouble.
6. Do something loving for yourself. Take a bath, take a walk, paint your finger nails, pay your bills, etc. Pamper yourself in simple or extravagant ways(if that is available to you). Sometimes, a hot cup of tea or a leisurely conversation with your besty is enough to change your perspective a tiny bit.
7. Really Listen.Call someone or email someone and ask how they are. Ask them about everything in their life, pour your love on them with your ears. Most time we are too, busy thinking of our next remark when we are in conversation. Notice the difference when you really listen to a person.
8. Be domestic. Wash your dishes, fold your laundry or have a cup of tea. Participating in domestic rituals can be very grounding.
9. Make something. Knitting is my craft therapy. How many projects get their start in tense times in my life? Too many but doing something crafty or culinary can put you in the zone. The zone is a beautiful place.

What do you do to pick up your spirits?

Monday's Moments(so far)

Monday Morning in a List
Listening to this mix
Eating apples.
Reading this blog
Seeing cloudy October skies and people bundled up and scurrying across campus.
Knowing this too, shall pass.
Drinking black tea with a dash of milk.
Feeling Hopeful.
Loving this tumblr

Living this quote-
"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.-unknown source.

Have a wonderful week,
k

Saturday

Image by NCM3 via Flickr
I ran into the following quote today in my notes. Thought I would share it here.

I've come to see that my life has a life of its own.
Instead of trying to commandeer it, I'm trying to follow it.

-Susan Piver