hear it, smell it

We had some Monday house going on here yesterday.

Nat and I went a little kitchen crazy.

First came the music. My turn, Pandora station: Joe Purdy.

Perfect for warming up. Get out the ingredients, line 'em up. And every Anthropolgie utensil in the arsenal for this meal, even the orange ceramic tablespoon with the broken handle.

Nat's turn, switch to Xavier Rudd. We are cookin' with heat now.

As I'm chopping onions, eyes stinging,

Bob comes on with a great version of "No Woman, No Cry".

If only you could hear it with the added rhythm of my big ol' knife and Natalie's mortar and pestle grind.

You can't order moments like that.

I got this set up at Anthro a long time ago. Nat needed nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves for pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. I had them all in their wholeness. Perfect! Get grinding girl. Steen showed up then and took a turn at grinding too and the smell of autumn started to fill us up. Mmmmm. . .

Beautiful. I hope you can smell what I cannot describe with words.

So beyond canned spices!

Next, the sauce. My first attempt at BBQ sauce from complete scratch (except ketchup as an ingredient) gets an A+. After a couple of simmering hours, it was time to get out the new rib painting brush. Enter the artists, Chris and Christine (again). I explained that the end result of a meal is dependent on the emotion that goes in during the cooking. A little happy, a little passion from the cooks and you get something so good. If the cook is not so happy, throws a little anger in, look out.

Stuffing the potato skins was a group effort. First Pretzel scrubbed, even grated some cheese. Steen helped me scoop, Nat helped mash, back in the oven.

Kody, Jade and Carson showed up. Yeeeaahh! Perfect attendance! Chuck got to show off his grill's new tricks. It proved itself worthy. Oh yeah, a vegetable. Nat threw some green beans, french cut even and some butter in a pan and all was well. This all just happened. One good song after another enhanced by the sound of a family. The rich smells of autumn in the kitchen gathered us all in. Hear it. Smell it.

Monday house rocked!

worth waiting for

I woke up so early today, middle of the night early.

It's the perfect time to play with the food on one's inspiration plate.

Spirit speaks clearly in the stillness, the vessel is wide open to receive.

I played, I sorted, I nourished myself.

About the time I felt like drifting back to sleep, I realized sunrise was only another hour or so away. I wanted to watch the day come on, rising over the eastern mountains. Staying awake wasn't easy. I panicked when I realized my eyes had closed for a minute. Then I opened them to this.

A simple lesson in patience, holding on.

Peace.

Be still.

. . .so the moon can shine

Franti's "The Sound of Sunshine" CD came out this week.

Mine arrived last weekend!

Thank you Natalie for pre-ordering my birthday present!

This is a nice little gift that I discovered on Saturday.

Happy autumnal equinox!

~

My grateful

"Don't wear fear or nobody will know you're here"

Cat Stevens

Empty your cup, open your heart, breathe peace and go where you're led.

You'll find yourself in the most amazing place.

Thank you Trish, for letting me in, for sharing your B boy. Ahhh, I cannot imagine my life without you . . .the passion of my life, birth work, was born from your heart 13 years ago.

Keep on. This world needs your light.

Yesterday was almost a four leaf clover kind of lucky day.

I checked the mailbox just before heading up Provo Canyon. My new, hard to find, Xavier Rudd CD, To Let, had arrived. I think he is my favorite lyricist, male anyway.

From "One Short Story". . .

her heart turned to liquid

and it trickled from her eyes

all she could do now

at this point in her life

was go home again

back to her friends

back to repair her heart

go home again

go back to your friends

go back and repair your heart

*

funniest thing i have ever seen

Nice way to start a nice day!
Michael in a suit!!!
Love him and I knew I loved Crystal Bowersox!
Next year Nat! Put this on your calendar for next year!
PTTP 2011. No excuses!

happiness

I listen to logic

and I listen.

Passion usually wins.

Majestic's got a ticket to ride ~

shotgun.

I'll vacuum.

Let's go girl. . .

Be peace now. . .

I read Thich Nhat Hanh yesterday.

Tender mercy, his words guided me through my day.

My day ended at Alisha's studio. It was about so much more than photography. Thank you my sister, my friend. Thank you for asking, thank you for knowing, thank you for being peace.

Nobody right, nobody wrong.

That's who I am.

"you know some people, they just won't understand. . ."

Perfect day for Indigo Girls, a red car and a black dog

This day has outdone herself with beauty.

I have found myself in an interesting situation - my schedule is EMPTY. Unexpectedly, unpredictably empty. The downshift was a little uncomfortable, but I think we're gonna be OK, me and breathe deep time.

Today. It's me and Li'l Red, I.G. up loud, rooftop open, goin' up Little Cottonwood, takin' the curves kinda fast.

One problem. I want 'Jes, the phat black lab to be my car friend. She's a good dog and loves to ride. The problem is dog hair. I don't want my car full of it. Amy thinks I should put her in a space suit up to her neck with a little bit of paws showing. Maybe I should just vacuum her space frequently. Maybe I should forget taking her or get over the hair. Ideas?

Tonight. I like being open to whatever comes up. I just got word that Brandi Carlile and Katie Herzig added a second show at The State Room tonight. If anyone is up to a last minute adventure, call me.

<<<<>>>>

givin' in to it

There was definitely something chilly going on last night.

New seasons always bring mixed feelings.

Today I embraced what is.

It's gonna be good.

I had forgotten how much I love my Smartwools and Danskos.

We're off. . .

Younger than I'll be

Happy Birthday to me!
Yep, it really is.

From the Nikki McClure book that Lindsay gave me ~
"living life where our hands matter"

As we went for an early walk in the crisp Wyoming air, I dropped behind my mom and Presley. I watched them. Two ladies that matter to me. I realized that I am able to give, to nurture and to love that little one, all of my little ones, because that wise one's hands did all that for me. Ripple. Rippling on in a big way.

"Be conscious and hold on as we spin around the sun one more time."

Playing Deer Valley on Friday with Govt Mule