The Smell of Water ..

In the Late Season
At the soft place in the snowbank
Warmed to dripping by the sun
There is the smell of water.
On the western wind the hint of glacier.
A cottonwood tree warmed by the same sun
On the same day,
My back against its rough bark
Same west wind mild in my face.
A piece of spring
Pierced me with love for this empty place
Where a prairie creek runs
Under its cover of clear ice
And the sound it makes,
Mysterious as a heartbeat,
New as a lamb. 

Tom Hennen

*

Latest Soup Obsession > > >

I found this soup recipe about 2 months ago and I’ve been making it weekly ever since (while listening to NPR on my grandpa’s radio in the background).  I’m going to let you in on a little secret and give you a link to its author’s website: 
It takes only 10 min. to make and it’s alkalizing…which means it’s really good for you.

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 

2 cups water
2 cups broccoli 
1 cups cauliflower
1 cup almond milk
1 garlic clove chopped
1/2 cup chopped or blended hazelnuts
salt
olive oil for garnish
add water, broccoli and cauliflower to pot and bring to a boil.  Turn down heat, add salt to your liking and simmer for 2 min.  Add almond milk and garlic and let it sit w medium heat for 1-2 min.  Turn off heat and add nuts and olive oil for garnish… Enjoy!

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 

) ) ) The ART of ASKING

I love Amanda Palmer.  I think her music is just ok.  Most people seem to agree.  Her music seems to be more about connection than the actually making music as I think she states in this video.  
She has an amazing ability to connect with her audience.  She loves us and we love her back.  There is a mutual understanding and appreciation for the very human condition of wanting to be seen.
In this video she talks about asking people to pay for music rather than making them and how through social media she raised 1.2 million dollars to support her last album and tour.  And I really don’t think it’s because she’s married to Neil Gaiman.
She knows how to ask.

<3 <3 <3 < 3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

* Sunlit Space for Something New *

Sunlight came through the windows on our sun porch yesterday.  It’s that time of year, it’s been so long since I’ve seen sunlight coming through the windows I can’t even remember how long it’s been.  Months, October maybe?  
It kicked off a major cleaning frenzy.  I cleaned from afternoon until night.  I listened to The Current and opened every cupboard in my kitchen, cleaned out my closet, dresser and cedar chest.  My biggest material attachment is clothes…I will admit it.  But I now have bags and bags of recycling and some nice stuff for The Salvation Army.
I can’t even tell you how great it is to open up a cupboard and know exactly what’s in it.  My closet and dresser too.  I know what I have and where to find it.  And I’m happy to let go of the things I’m no longer using, even though I still love and appreciate them. 
And there’s a little room to move now.  Space for something new.
  ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) O ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

< DON'T GIVE UP >

Just hung this new print up in the studio.  
I love the message and the way it is spelled out in big block letters.  I love that the artist chose red which is the color of the earth and body.   There is attention to detail that you can only see close up…the way the red on the edges of each letter gently fades out onto the paper, little splashes of red paint on the background.  Up close you get a little history of the print you don’t anticipate.  
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.  As someone who has a difficult time saying no – it feels like giving up.  The artist probably put a lot of time into this print, more than it looks or feels like which is partly what makes it so pretty.  It feels clear and simple.
So when I hung it up and thought about it it just made me happy for its message as well as its image.  And I think that’s what it reminds me of.  After all the hard work the image should look easy and effortless.  If you spend too much time on it you muddy it up. 

It’s a good reminder for us all. 

A good reminder said in a beautiful and artistic but super simple way.  Delivered in a way we will remember it as an image as well as its meaning.

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