Quote

Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth. 

~Alan Watts

photo by spbm

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, everyone!

I've been watching the inaugural today, and I have had a hard time keeping the tears back. I feel so proud! But I am a big President Obama Fan!!! And, I think Michele is just the classiest... and a beautiful First Lady. My heart feels good today.

On another note, I've been a little busy lately. I'm ready for spring, though. :) It's drab and cold outside today, so I'm trying to keep the sun shinning in my heart and mind.

I have been working on a visual wall that goes to my basement. I am wallpapering it with pretty visual images from magazines. I thought what the heck, if I don't like it or if it doesn't work I can take it down and paint. Well, I'm loving it! I didn't want to make put extra pressure on myself, so just working on it when I have time and feel like working on it. Now I have to get the ladder to finish the top and move a shelf loaded with books to complete the bottom. I have small wall opposite it that I am thinking of making it a wall of quotes and poetry, (just writing them on with a sharpie).  You all know how I love quotes. :)

photo by spbm

photo by spbm

It just makes me feel really good when I look at it. :)

I had mentioned that I wanted to start yoga and meditation. Well, let me tell you about it, I did and I LOVE it. Omg, why did I procrastinate for so long? The first few days, I thought I can't do this, but I've come a long way, baby, with a long way to go. But some of it is starting to feel really good when I do it. I can almost touch my head on my knees. YEAH!!! And I bought a couple of audio books to listen to at night, Deepak Chopra and Dr. Wayne Dyer. I can't tell you how much I love both of them. Also, I used to listen to Yanni a lot, I found him to be so comforting and soothing to listen to, not to mention that I am in love with him. In my next life...he is all mine. LOL

Yanni    

Made some mini banana muffins yesterday. Haven't made them in a long time, forgot how good they are. I usually add nuts, didn't have any, they were still delicious.

 
photo by spbm

You can find the recipe here: Wicked Delicious

I followed this recipe exactly, just did not add the crumb topping.

A few inspirational quotes. Was playing with my phone the other night after going to bed and got a few pictures to use for some awesome quotes.

All photos by spbm

Have a wonderful week everyone!
xoxo

a day of color

photo by spbm

“Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways. ”

― Oscar Wilde   

photo by spbm

“Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing? Can one really explain this? no. Just as one can never learn how to paint.”

― Pablo Picasso   

photo by spbm

People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and its ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations, with each passing moment. A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors. Waxy yellows, cloud-spat blues. Murky darknesses. In my line of work, I make it a point to notice them. ”

― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

 

photo by spbm

“Love has a shape, but no color. You’re probably wondering, “If it’s transparent, how do you know what shape it is?” Good question. Well, for one thing, I put it together, and for another, I’m currently wearing it like body armor (though to the casual observer, I appear naked).
”

― Jarod Kintz, This is the best book I've ever written, and it still sucks

feather of a bird

photo by spbm

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

photo by spbm

“Nature is a haunted house--but Art--is a house that tries to be haunted.”
― Emily Dickinson, The Complete Poems

photo by spbm

“Sometimes I lie awake at night and I ask, "Is life a multiple choice test or is it a true or false test?" ...Then a voice comes to me out of the dark and says, "We hate to tell you this but life is a thousand word essay.”

― Charles M. Schulz

monday inspiration

photo by spbm

“Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and it's beauty.”


― Albert Einstein

from "life of pi"

Photo by SPBM

“Life is a peephole, a single tiny entry onto a vastness--how can I not dwell on this brief, cramped view of things? This peephole is all I've got!”

― Yann Martel, Life of Pi

Photo by SPBM

“All living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways. This madness can be saving; it is part and parcel of the ability to adapt. Without it, no species would survive.”

― Yann Martel, Life of Pi

 

Living In The Moment

Photo by spbm

What I'm trying to do these days "Live In The Moment".   Some wonderful Rabindranath Tagore quotes. When I read him, I feel like I could burst open...his words are so real...so moving...  Hope you enjoy them as much as I did today.  ++++   “The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.”

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”


“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in you. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.”


“If I can't make it through one door, I'll go through another door- or i'll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.”

“We live in the world when we love it.”

“The smile that flickers on a baby’s lips when he sleeps- does anyone know where it was born? Yes, there is a rumor that a young pale beam of a crescent moon touched the edge of a vanishing autumn cloud, and there the smile was first born in the dream of a dew-washed morning.”

“Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf.”

“Love is an endless mystery, because there is no reasonable cause that could explain it.”

“When the heart is hard and parched up, come upon me with a shower of mercy.
When grace is lost from life, come with a burst of song.
When tumultuous work raises its din on all sides shutting me out from beyond, come to me, my lord of silence, with thy peace and rest.
When my beggarly heart sits crouched, shut up in a corner, break open the door, my king, and come with the ceremony of a king.
When desire blinds the mind with delusion and dust, O thou holy one, thou wakeful, come with thy light and thy thunder.”     “YOU are the big drop of dew under the lotus leaf,
I am the smaller one on its upper side,'
said the dewdrop to the lake.”

“Trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.”


-Rabindranath Tagore

Inspiration

Photo by SPBM

Stung by the splendor of a sudden thought.
-Robert Browning

The greatest inspiration is often born of desperation.
-Comer Cotrell

The torpid artist seeks inspiration at any cost, by virtue or by vice, by friend or by fiend, by prayer or by wine.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here is the secret of inspiration: Tell yourself that thousands and tens of thousands of people, not very intelligent and certainly no more intelligent than the rest of us, have mastered problems as difficult as those that now baffle you.

-William Feather

The Lonely Bird Does Fly

Some instagrams taken the past couple of days. This photo so matched a prose I wrote in 2007, that I felt the need to post them together. I don't like posting my poems or proses on the Internet, but they just seem to go so perfectly together.

Photo by spbm

The Lonely Bird Does Fly

early dawn
and the lonely bird does fly across
an empty sky
carrying secrets from the night
here to there
wondering
asking why
questions
no one answers
the sky is empty

SPBM~28 january 2007

Photo by SPBM

A Real Estate building, pretty much in my backyard. :(

“There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.”

~ Deepak Chopra

Photo by SPBM

“If you want to reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue. Make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved, and the need to judge. Those are the three things the ego is doing all the time. It's very important to be aware of them every time they come up.”


~Deepak Chopra

Photo by SPBM

“The secret of attraction is to love yourself. Attractive people judge neither themselves nor others. They are open to gestures of love. They think about love, and express their love in every action. They know that love is not a mere sentiment, but the ultimate truth at the heart of the universe.”


~ Deepak Chopra

Finding Luck

Photo by SPBM

I found a four leaf clover a couple days ago, my first one ever. :) It was small, but who cares, it was a four leaf clover. I'll take it. I believe in luck.

Go and wake up your luck. ~Persian Saying

Nature creates ability; luck provides it with opportunity.

- Francois de La Rochefoucauld

When Night Comes

Pictures I took with my iPhone tonight. The full moon was beautiful!

photo by spbm

Night is a world lit by itself.

~Antonio Porchia, Voces, 1943, translated from Spanish by W.S. Merwin

photo by spbm

I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.

~Vincent Van Gogh

photo by spbm

The day has eyes; the night has ears.

~David Fergusson

When the sky moves...

The sky was extrodinary today! I took these while in the car, going down the highway. (And no, I was NOT driving.) :)

Photo by SPBM

“I've always thought of wholeness and integration as necessary myths. We're gragmented beings who cement ourselves together, but there are always cracks. Living with the cracks is part of being, well, reasonably healthy.”

― Siri Hustvedt, The Sorrows of an American

Photo by SPBM

“The truth is that personality inevitably bleeds into all forms of our intellectual life. We all extrapolate from our own lives in order to understand the world.”

― Siri Hustvedt, The Shaking Woman, or A History of My Nerves

 

Photo by SPBM

“I remember thinking how easy it is to speak in clichés, to steal a line from pulp fiction and let it fall. We can only hover around the inexpressible with our words anyway, and there is comfort in saying what we have heard before.”

― Siri Hustvedt, The Blindfold

Photo by SPBM

“I've always thought of wholeness and integration as necessary myths. We're fragmented beings who cement ourselves together, but there are always cracks. Living with the cracks is part of being, well, reasonably healthy”

― Siri Hustvedt, The Sorrows of an American

If you are not familiar with Siri Hustvedt books, do yourself a favor and purchase one now. They're wonderful! She is as gifted as she is beautiful!

And, for another treat, enjoy this beautiful and melancholy music by her daughter.

Pain is personal

Photo by SPBM

“Life is pain, highness. Anyone who tells you differently is selling something.”

― William Goldman, The Princess Bride

 

“The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared.”

― Lois Lowry, The Giver

 

“There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.”

― Laurell K. Hamilton, Mistral's Kiss

“It’s the same with people who say, ‘Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’ Even people who say this must realize that the exact opposite is true. What doesn’t kill you maims you, cripples you, leaves you weak, makes you whiny and full of yourself at the same time. The more pain, the more pompous you get. Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you incredibly annoying.”

― Rob Sheffield

“Adventures are all very well in their place, but there's a lot to be said for regular meals and freedom from pain.”

― Neil Gaiman, Stardust

“There are ships sailing to many ports, but not a single one goes where life is not painful.”

― Fernando Pessoa

“The marks humans leave are too often scars.”

― John Green

A Few Henry Miller Quotes

Do you ever find yourself wishing you could travel back in time and meet those who have been before us, and intrigue us so much today? I sure do! People from different eras are so fascinating...at least I think so. Sometimes when I read them, they feel like a friend, sitting at the kitchen table and sharing a cup of coffee with me. I can dream.

"The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.”

******

“Every day we slaughter our finest impulses. That is why we get a heartache when we read those lines written by the hand of a master and recognize them as our own, as the tender shoots which we stifled because we lacked the faith to believe in our own powers, our own criterion of truth and beauty. Every man, when he gets quiet, when he becomes desperately honest with himself, is capable of uttering profound truths. We all derive from the same source. there is no mystery about the origin of things. We are all part of creation, all kings, all poets, all musicians; we have only to open up, only to discover what is already there.”

*******

“Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.”

---------

“Everyone has his own reality in which, if one is not too cautious,timid, or frightened, one swims. This is the only reality there is.”

################

“Life moves on, whether we act as cowards or heroes. Life has no other discipline to impose, if we would but realize it, than to accept life unquestioningly. Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate or despise, serves to defeat us in the end. What seems nasty, painful, evil, can become a source of beauty, joy, and strength, if faced with an open mind. Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such”



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“Destiny is what you are supposed to do in life. Fate is what kicks you in the ass to make you do it.”

&&&&&&&&

“Anaïs, I don't know how to tell you what I feel. I live in perpetual expectancy. You come and the time slips away in a dream. It is only when you go that I realize completely your presence. And then it is too late. You numb me. [...] This is a little drunken, Anaïs. I am saying to myself "here is the first woman with whom I can be absolutely sincere." I remember your saying - "you could fool me, I wouldn't know it." When I walk along the boulevards and think of that. I can't fool you - and yet I would like to. I mean that I can never be absolutely loyal - it's not in me. I love women, or life, too much - which it is, I don't know. But laugh, Anaïs, I love to hear you laugh. You are the only woman who has a sense of gaiety, a wise tolerance - no more, you seem to urge me to betray you. I love you for that. [...]
I don't know what to expect of you, but it is something in the way of a miracle. I am going to demand everything of you - even the impossible, because you encourage it. You are really strong. I even like your deceit, your treachery. It seems aristocratic to me.”

@@@@@@

“Nothing can be given or taken away; nothing has been added or subtracted; nothing increased or diminished. We stand on the same shore before the same mighty ocean. The ocean of love. There it is - in perpetuum. As much in a broken blossom, the sound of a waterfall, the swoop of a carrion bird as in the thunderous artillery of the prophet.

We move with eyes shut and ears stopped; we smash walls where doors are waiting to open to the touch; we grope for ladders, forgetting that we have wings; we pray as if God were deaf and blind, as if He were in a space. No wonder the angels in our midst are unrecognizable.
One day it will be pleasant to remember these things.”

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“When you surrender, the problem ceases to exist. Try to solve it, or conquer it, and you only set up more resistance. . . . The most difficult thing to admit, and to realize with one's whole being, is that you alone control nothing. . . .”

++++++++++++++++++++++++

“Chaos is the score upon which reality is written.”

((((((((((((((((((

“One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

=========================================================

If interested, you can find lots of good info about Henry Miller here:

http://www.doctorhugo.org/henry/miller.html

Most of the time...

Does anyone understand their own fragility? I doubt it. People never know what thing it is that will break the thread that holds them together. There are things that unravel us little by little, without our knowing the exact breaking point.

Most of the time, it is not the big thing that breaks us - it's the little thing.

My little Marelli

“We who choose to surround ourselves

with lives even more temporary than our

own, live within a fragile circle;

easily and often breached.

Unable to accept its awful gaps,

we would still live no other way.

We cherish memory as the only

certain immortality, never fully

understanding the necessary plan.”

― Irving Townsend

 

“There's no fear in a shallow heart

because the shallow heart is faint and don't fall apart,

But feeling hearts that truly care

are fragile to the flow of air.”

― Q-tip

“Now the thought of forever makes me tired. Frightened. Sad. What is forever worth? When love is so fragile and even one human life so long?” ~Stacey Jay

Some beautiful music...

Tuesday Thoughts

Rescued this beauty yesterday from the dumpster. Hope I can keep her alive - not a lot of good light in my house. Can only try.

I never saw a discontented tree. They grip the ground as though they liked it, and though fast rooted they travel about as far as we do. They go wandering forth in all directions with every wind, going and coming like ourselves, traveling with us around the sun two million miles a day, and through space heaven knows how fast and far! ~John Muir

“Language allows us to reach out to people, to touch them with our innermost fears, hopes, disappointments, victories. To reach out to people we'll never meet.

It's the greatest legacy you could ever leave your children or your loved ones:

The history of how you felt.”

― Simon Van Booy

Some favorite reads.

“For some people, life is the process of knocking through walls to get out. For others, it is the building of walls.”

― Simon Van Booy, The Secret Lives of People in Love

“My old geography professor once told his class how the music, paintings, sculptures, and books of the world are mirror in which people see versions of themselves.”

― Simon Van Booy, Love Begins in Winter: Five Stories

“Dreamers conquered the world long ago.”
― Simon Van Booy, Everything Beautiful Began After: A Novel

"The human heart is like india-rubber; a little swells it, but a great deal will not burst it. If "little more than nothing will disturb it, little less than all things will suffice" to break it. As in the outer members of our frame, there is a vital power inherent in itself that strengthens it against external violence. Every blow that shakes it will serve to harden it against a future stroke; as constant labour thickens the skin of the hand, and strengthens its muscles instead of wasting them away: so that a day of arduous toil, that might excoriate a lady's palm, would make no sensible impression on that of a hardy ploughman." ~anne bronte

Monday Nostalgia

I have a secret to share...I don't want to but I feel I must. First, let me say that I am a disciplined eater and eat quite healthy...most of the time. However, I have a weakness! It's cotton candy. Funny thing is, I don't even like really sweet desserts and I prefer dark chocolate to milk chocolate. I always cut the sugar in anything I bake, so how is it I love cotton candy so much?

Tasting something like.........HEAVEN.

Maybe because it brings back memories of my dad taking me to the carnival each year and getting to have one cotton candy to devour. I grew up in a small town and it was a rare treat to come in contact with the soft, cloud-like spun sugar. I am embarrassed to express how much I love this stuff, but I do. I truly do LOVE it.

 

I am thankful the store I frequent does not have this stuff all the time. I have so overdosed on sugar today, and it doesn't feel good, but...no doubt, I would do it all over again.

and for some more nostalgia...

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly."

— Siddhārtha Gautama

"Good books don't give up all their secrets at once."

— Stephen King

"Everybody has a secret world inside of them. All of the people of the world, I mean everybody. No matter how dull and boring they are on the outside, inside them they've all got unimaginable, magnificent, wonderful, stupid, amazing worlds. Not just one world. Hundreds of them. Thousands maybe."

— Neil Gaiman



On The Wings Of A Dove

Have you ever wished you could hitch a ride on the back of a bird and fly along on the hope and faith of a bird? I have. I do. I thought about this today when I saw a Dove perched on the bird feeder pole. Think of birds flying, they never hesitate when spreading their wings and flying. They travel light - no baggage, no fear, no nagging what ifs, (yes, I am a big “what iffer”.) Just imagine if they took into account all the things that could go wrong…I envy their “no worry” take on the world and life. They don’t worry about whether their belief is the right one, if they are doing things right, or whether the path will be the right or wrong one - if only…

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. ~Swedish Proverb

Worry is rust upon the blade. ~Henry Ward Hughes

life is a verb by patti digh

life is a verb

I've posted about this wonderful book before, but it is one of my favorite books to keep handy, at arms reach. It challenges me to think about things that I do not always want to think about. It is full of wonderful quotes and wisdom. 
 

“Instead of a book, what if we're actually writing (or not writing) in the margins of our lives? What if our lives are books? What is the sign of our presence? Are we pressing into the margins our interpretations and questions? Are we circling offending verbs and drawing furious arrows to the margin where we scrawl "irony," "frustration," "voiceless," "unfair!" Or do we simply turn the pages, passively receiving what's given, furiously disagreeing but remaining silent about it?”

― Patti Digh, Life Is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally

I really do need to buy other Patti Digh books. Someday soon.

On my list of MUST have this.