The Metaphorical Magpie

Sweet Southern Hospitality

There are meals that I dream about. Reliving each amazing bite. Meals cooked by my Grandmomma Carlie rank as all time favorites. She put out this amazing spread for us when we visited a few months ago.  She grows many  vegetables in her garden. The freshness of taking something straight from the garden to the table is extraordinary. Her pies are certifiably amazing.

Enjoy a peek y'all! More of the deliciousness in my Flickr food set.

 

Golly I wish it was green again

It's been drab and brown for a while now. I'm longing for green expanses punctuated by happy flowers. Here's a batch of photos from a visit to Longwood Gardens I made with my mother at the end of September.
More memories of greener times in my Flickr Flora set.

Up, up and away

I sit down to write this exhausted, my friends.

All the excitement over the wish tree left me so worn down at the beginning of the week. Monday I dragged myself home from work limp. Perhaps I understand a tiny bit now about those who practice energy work. I focused very hard on making the most of this project. I feel cleaned out.

My grand aunt Dodi has had a series of strokes over the last few weeks. I get a call from her nursing home almost daily now about her latest developments. There have been several conversations in hushed tones about her status. Since the holidays, she has lost sight in her left eye, her ability to bear weight or walk and use of her left arm. Her skin is bruising easily. She requires hands on care now with all her personal needs. The situation is very sad and draining. I became her advocate in 2000. Widowed and childless, she does not have any of the usual people to turn to when one gets old. She turned to her sister, my Grams, who in turn looked to me because she knew I was fond of Dodi. We moved her from Rhode Island to New Jersey the weekend before the 2000 election. Since then there have been moves into an apartment, assisted living, a nursing home, a broken hip, rehab and worst of all the Alzheimers diagnosis. I took great care to talk to her about her wishes when her mind was less fractured. I am confident that I know what treatment plan she would choose for herself if she were able to make the decisions. Yet, it is hard when confronted with people who don't agree with what it is I feel is appropriate to honor Dodi's preferences. Living life is hard enough. Helping someone move toward the end of theirs with dignity is a very heavy task.

On addition to all this, we are traveling this week. I love to travel. But it turns me into a complete crazy person as I attempt to prepare for every journey. Until I feel the nose of the airplane start to sniff the air, I am a wreck. I took a last minute personal day yesterday to stop in at the nursing home to settle some details there and to run some errands before we leave. I have to be out of the house in nine hours and I'm still not ready. I can't decide which dress I should wear to my dear friend, Michael's wedding. Will the silk dress look like a disaster after a cross country journey? Will another be too casual? Is wearing black a bad omen at a Vietnamese wedding? I'll most likely over pack just to be sure. I bought a new pair of shoes last night thinking they would be good for walking the city. After breaking them in today, there is a big honkin' blister on my right ankle. Oi!

My little break to write to you over a cup of Moroccan Green Tea Chai has almost come to an end. There is still the matter of carry on to deal with. Which camera lenses do I lug? Which magazines? Did I mention it's pouring rain in San Francisco and will continue to do so for days? What coat do I bring? See how crazed I become?

I managed to put together a few posts to appear automatically while I am away. After lots of thinking and worrying, I reluctantly decided not to post a Saturday Seed this week or next week. The seeds are a very interactive process. You can't just plant a garden and walk away. It needs tending. I'd rather wait a little while for the right conditions to plant the next seed. I hope you all understand.

When I'm on that big bird for close to six hours, I plan on starting my own 101 in 1001 days list. What better place to dream a little than nestled in amongst the clouds? While we're away I am going to attempt to unplug, recharge, visit with friends, and celebrate the anniversary of when Sweets and I began dating. A whole week of doing fun things together is just what I need right now.

Until I get back... be your awesome selves.

* I'm currently playing the new Liam Finn cd , I'll Be Lightning over and over. Head over to his site for a little listening party.

Wish Tree revealed

There was much scampering here over the weekend as we prepared the house for guests and the Wish Tree Ceremony. A pleasant morning date with myself was spent at a local ribbon shop choosing a rainbow of ribbons for those that chose to email their wishes from afar and party attendees. Sweets and I baked a batch of chocolate mint cookies together on Friday night, I made rice crispy treats on Saturday and he pulled off those gorgeous cup(wish)cakes all by himself on Sunday while I did more straightening up around the house.

It was bitterly cold on Sunday as our guests arrived. Yet everyone was in a sweet bubbly mood as we chatted together inside the house waiting for the rest of the crowd to arrive so we could begin the ceremony.

As we spilled out into the cold, scarves tied tightly and bemittened, there was no time for a long speech to start the ceremony. If it had been warmer, I would have taken a few minutes to talk about why I chose to schedule the ceremony for this day. Falling on my late Grams' birthday, I chose to honor her memory in this fun filled way. She would have enjoyed this party as she'd been a guest at many of my parties in the past. Also falling on the weekend that honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I would have noted that our wishes would be joining the echoes of his dream. The dream that I and so many of us still keep alive today in our hearts and deeds.

With teeth chattering and feet moving to keep warm, my guests eyed me expectantly and I sensed I should get this event moving. I had a basket filled with the envelopes we'd received in the mail along with the loose ribbons I chose. To break the ice, I started with the envelope from Linni of Periwinkle. Somehow she'd found a dozen women to take a moment to make a wish. When I received their package full of bit of gold, stripes and colorful ribbons I was so delighted. I announced these ribbons are from ladies in Chilbolton and Wherwell, Hampshire UK. I encouraged everyone to select a ribbon from the package and tie it on the tree.

Then I opened things up for our guests to tie their own wishes on the tree. The thoughtfulness in choice of ribbons was fantastic. My mother created a fun project for my nephews. In the morning she printed out some images of birds and had the boys color them as they wished. They tied the birds on their wish ribbons. How awesome is that?

After that round, we went back to the basket for the other wishes sent in. Emailed wishes were printed on a slip of paper. Someone chose a wish and ribbon they felt was appropriate for it. For some, like M.Heart,  Jenica and Luzie some suggestions were made for color choices which we respected. I heard many murmurings of names and little exclamations of  "oh,what a nice wish" as the group worked together to hang all the ribbons in the basket. Some of the wishes I heard  were for  an animal companion- a horse, a dog, a rabbit.  Others were for success in careers. A few were for family members who are ill. One was for our next president. Some were cryptically personal. And some were kept secret. The one that made me smile widest was from a little girl who wished to be a mermaid. An ocean blue ribbon was chosen for her.

I was so busy passing out ribbons that I still had my own ribbon hanging around my neck. My friend, Tess, nudged me to go tie mine to the dogwood.  I chose a branch that forked in three directions to tie my purple wish onto tightly. I was so focused on the tying I almost forgot to tell it my wish! I whispered it to the tree just as I finished tying the bow.

Suddenly the basket was empty. All but JPo dashed inside heading toward steaming cups of coffee and tea, a table loaded with treats and company. We lingered outside a few moments longer, shivering, to take more photos. I wanted to take a self portrait for this week Self Portrait Challenge. Pulling off a happening of this sort is a cause for celebration.

For more  of my photos of the day, visit my Flickr  Wish Tree Project set.  Notes are made where possible on whose ribbons are pictured. When my friends photos are available online I'll link to them, too.

Here is a list of  participants in the Wish Tree Project.  Ribbons will fly until the dogwood tree begins to bloom.  You may still send me a ribbon and I will hang it on the tree. Email me for mailing information.  Read the details on The Wish Tree Project if you are not familiar.

For more reasons to celebrate, visit the Self Portrait Challenge community.

 

I want to say thank you to all of you that participated and supported this endeavor. I was surprised how it took off. I hope you are all pleasantly surprised as you find your wishes coming true. Unexpectedly, I received gifts of friendship along with the ribbons.  Carmen sent me some gorgeous bookmarks that she made. Joan enclosed an owl feather for my feather collection in her package. Daisies tucked one of her beautiful photos into her envelope for me.  All of these will be kept and cherished. As well as the new connections I've made with all of you during this project.  When I launched the project, I said there would be goodies for some of the participants. I haven't forgotten and will post soon about the winners.

Thank you for wishing with me.

A tiny taste

On Sunday, I hosted a small group of friends for the Wish Tree Ceremony. I'll be back later on today with photos from the ribbon tying event. Until then, feast your eyes on the tea party that awaited us after we returned inside from the cold.

Saturday Seed No. 3

Feeling better after thinking about your health last week? I hope so. I put some things in motion to be a wee bit healthier myself. After being so good to yourself last week, I think you deserve a treat. You've made your appointment with a doctor. Now make a date with yourself.

That's right. Declare a block of time that is for you to do what you wish. It could daily, weekly, monthly, whatever works best for you. Schedule it into your calendar just like anything else that is important enough to show up for. Don't use a pencil, honey. Make it bold.

I've made a date with myself on weekday mornings. Alone time is really scarce around here. Sweets and I work odd hours. By the time he left for work, I'd be lucky to have an hour by myself and then I'd be mired in packing lunch, showering etc. I don't come until 3 or 4 hours after he's been home for the day. He gets to watch a movies, read, do the New York magazine crossword puzzle or anything else he wants to do. I talked to Sweets about needing to find some more time for myself. That was a hard conversation. I felt so selfish to ask for something for myself. He's offered to leave for work an hour earlier. Now I have one whole blissful hour every weekday to do whatever I wish. Some days I read. Some I write. A lot of the time I'm at the window with my binoculars watching the birds. There is time to chat with my sister. I love my hour!

My friend, Cyndemouse, wants to make Saturday her Sleeping In Day. Excellent!

One of my guy friends like to pamper himself on his day off with a pedicure.

One of the benefits of dating yourself is that you are sure you're not going to end up trapped for hours with a creep. There will be none of that "What do you want to do?" I don't know. "What do you want to do?" type planning to contend with. You get to decide what time you come home and what the date is going to cost. I don't think it really needs to cost anything. You can find plenty of free ways to amuse yourself. But if you're feeling flush, go for it.

Ideas for your first date:
A trip to the library. Relax in the quiet atmosphere browsing through the art books or settle down in the periodicals looking at magazines you don't often see. Feel free to say "shhh."

Go for a walk in a place that interests you.

If there's a movie or an art show that you are dying to see,  put on your coat and go see it for yourself.

Start a journal

Explore your local downtown area as if you were a tourist

Go to a music store that has the headphones to preview records. Explore artists that you are not familiar with.

Pursue your artistic passion

Visit your local garden design center and enjoy the flowers. At this time of year, a greenhouse is a fantastic place to hang out. Take time to touch and smell the plants.

Sign up for a class. Yoga, pottery, watercolors, home improvement.

Join a club. Look around for a local book club, knitting group or something else that interests you.

Remember, first dates can be a bit awkward. Relax. Get to know yourself and have fun. If you don't feel a spark right away, give yourself another chance. This could be the beginning of a beautiful new relationship.

So, what are you going to do on your date? In this instance, it's okay to kiss and tell.

Beautiful Film Week: We're off to see the wizard

Think back to the first movie you ever fell in love with. For me, it was The Wizard of Oz. I remember the big treat of being able to stay up late to watch it; sitting crosslegged on the floor in front of a tiny television set.
There are loads of books titled things something like "Everything I Know I Learned from ..." One day I should write my own tome on how everything important I've learned in life was from the Wizard of Oz.

I learned that wherever you go there is struggle between the good and the wicked. You must use your brain and your heart and all your courage to make it through the storm. Sparkly shoes and a little dog are surefire ways to ensure success in all endeavors. It taught me to question authority. To rap cowards on the nose when they try to frighten me.  That the coolest monkeys ever can fly and where little hats. That the little people count.

This year, I'm trying to find my own path. If it were only so easy for someone to call out to me "Follow the yellow brick road" and to find it scrawling across my horizon. It is easy to get delayed in the fields of poppies, spooky forests and flashy cities  I encounter. if anyone has glimpsed that yellow brick road, do tell me where it begins.

For more participants in Beautiful Film Week, refer to its hostess, Abby Try Again.

Here's a list of films I enjoyed in 2007.

Countdown to wish tree day

Saturday Seed No. 1  is spreading its roots bit by bit each day. Just the way a good seed should. Messages are coming in each day with more people that want to participate. This makes me so happy. I have a peek in the mailbox to look forward to when I come home at night. When I received the first ribbon, I was so excited to get the package open I accidentally stabbed myself in the palm with a scissor. Ouch. That ribbon was from my blogless, mother-in-law Deb. I can't wait for you to see it. In her words, she cheated a little. Sweets said I was beaming when I unwrapped it. Isn't it amazing how something so small can make my so happy?

The participant list keeps growing. Check it out here.

And feel free to join in on the fun!

Self Portrait Challenge: Celebrate Like mindedness

With the December holiday hiatus at Self Portrait Challenge, I find less images of myself showing up when I download from the camera. Taking a break from looking at myself allowed me time to look within myself. Struggling to find my voice for so long, I think I've finally cleared the gunk out of my throat and my voice is becoming stronger and clearer each day. I celebrate that today.

Another reason to celebrate is finding more and more like minded  people out there.  I am trying to look at new blogs every day, commenting and emailing those who I feel a  bond with. Even for a magpie Gemini like me, this is still slightly out of my comfort zone. For much of my life I felt  like I didn't fit in. Then I tried owning that feeling and defiantly not wanting to fit in with the masses. I find it is very comforting to suddenly see there are others out there that share my interests and ideas. There are kindred spirits that I can join without feeling like a sheep. I celebrate that today, too.

This week, I started receiving ribbons in the mail to hang on the wish tree. I had a kooky idea and other kindred  folks reached out to join me. People that are strangers living in different lands, potential new friends. I celebrate that today as well. There is more time to send a ribbon to hang on the wish tree. Read about how here.

For more celebratory citizens of the world, visit the Self Portrait Challenge.  Come on in and  join the celebration. 

Beautiful film week begins today

Through the crazy constellation of blog hopping, blogger A came to me from Blogger B.  Went I went to Blogger B, I was led to Blogger C. I really love bouncing around each other. I find new lovelies every single day. Today, Blogger C was Abby Try Again. She's hosting a Beautiful Film Week over at her blog. Since I think its a terrific idea and I'm majorly film obsessed, I'm going to jump on in. I'd been having trouble embedding video in Typepad, so I hope this exercise will be just the trick for working out the kinks. Thanks to Janet for  giving me some coaching via email.

I wrote a little about this film last week. I was so struck by its beauty. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, the heartbreakingly beautiful  story of French Elle editor, Jean-Dominique Bauby, or Jean-Do to his friends.  Jean-Do suffered a massive stroke in 1995 that left him unable to move any part of his body except one eyelid.  His condition was called locked-in syndrome but he did not shut down. With help from a team of therapists at the hospital, he was able to communicate in a painstakingly slow method by blinking his eye to indicate the letter of a word he wanted to form. Using this method, he was able to dictate a memoir and see it published a few days before he died in 1997. Under the direction of Julian Schnabel, this film is not depressing as you would imagine at first blush. Shot in a dreamy evocative style, you are looking through Jean-Do's eye for much of the film as people and his memories blur and come into sharp focus. Bauby's story is told with humor and dignity. It's the kind of film that makes you realize that all your problems are rather trivial in the grand scheme of things. Realizing that can be a beautiful thing.

This film is screening in select U.S. cities now. It opens in the UK on February 8th.

Photo and video clip courtesy of Miramax.




Saturday Seed No. 2

Hello Dearies.

How are you feeling? No, no, no. Don't brush over the answer to my question. I really want to know. Most importantly, I want you to know as well. This week's seed is to assess your health. Take some time to check in with your bod and say hello. Give it a squish. When's the last time you sat down for a chat together? Take a while to check yourself out from head to toe. It can be in the shower or in front of a mirror. Whatever, babes. It's your body.

Have you been feeling any aches and pains? Have any suspicious lumps or bumps? How's your energy level? Have you been feeling down so long you don't remember when you smiled last? Can you sleep? Has your weight plummeted or skyrocketed? Are you self medicating with wine or pills?

Maybe you feel pretty awesome. You eat well and exercise. Good for you. I'd like to join your club. Can you direct me to the membership office ?

Either way, when is the last time you had a checkup? Have you been putting an important health screening on the back burner because you claim you are too busy? No more of this "if it ain't broke, don't fix it business."  This isn't the Antique Roadshow, sister. It's your life. That patina you're working up on your arteries is not going to improve your value later on.

This week, I want you to really think about your health. If it's been a while since you've been checked out, get out your phone book and give the little guy with the stethescope a jingle. If you don't have a doctor, ask around for some suggestions. If you think you can't afford medical attention, look into a clinic that operates out of a local hospital.

Start your year out feeling as good as you can. You've got alot of cool things to do this year. Can't be feeling crappy now. If you know you have an ailment, stop skirting the issue and deal with it. We all have are stuff to deal with. People I love have diabetes, anxiety attacks, sluggish thyroids, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, high cholesterol and all sorts of other things. These are all conditions that can be managed. There is no need to suffer. We need to be honest with ourselves, first and foremost, about what we're up against. So, you got a crappy hand in DNA poker. You can still win the game. But it sure isn't going to be by bluffing. You really need to know what cards you are holding and how to play them well.

I knew I was way overdue for some routine exams at the end of last year. Would you believe that it had been two years since my last eye exam? I learned I wasn't crazy, I really was having trouble focusing and it was because the sight in my right eye has actually improved a smidgen. The doctor said sometimes that happend when you get older. Gee, thanks. My new prescription has me seeing like a hawk. Going to the dentist and at home dental hygiene is probably one rung lower than Chinese water torture on my list of things to do. I'd gotten through life with no cavities until I was 30. And then it was just one. A fluke, I thought. Last month I found myself in the chair being gently scolded by the hygienist and given the news that after not coming in for a check up for a year and a half, I now needed three cavities filled. For months before, I'd been having pain around my ear. I thought it was my sinuses. Turns out my chompers were the problemo. Did I mention the shocking revelations after a mandatory health screening at the office. Evidently, my good cholesterol level is really good. The bad cholesterol is pretty bad.  Now aware of this, I'm making some dietary changes to get it under control.

Here's some suggestions from the U.S. Health and Human Services on how frequently and at what age you should consider a variety of  Preventative Health Screenings and Immunizations. There are four tabs there. Make sure you look at all of them to learn if you are overdue for an important screening like a mammogram, a  blood glucose test, thyroid test etc.

One last thought I want to leave you with today. You deserve a health practitioner that you feel comfortable talking to about your health. One that does not seem rushed and uninterested or dismissive about your concerns. If you feel your doctor is not serving you, even if you've been seeing the same one for a very long time, it is okay for you to find someone else that treats you better. There is more to being a good doctor than getting out that little blue pad and writing our problems away with something we can swallow. I've found that a doctor will discuss diet and exercise or alternatives to pharmaceuticals only if you inquire. Find a doctor willing to work with you on a treatment plan that you will actually follow. Sometimes you may get more relief from a natural practice like acupuncture, chiropractic care or reflexology than the pills doctors like to push. Other times the pills may be the only thing that helps.

As I said when Saturday Seeds launched last week, each seed is going to be personally subjective. Only you will know how this seed is meant for you. I look forward to hearing about what you're doing about your health this week. If you write your own post on this week's seed, let me know and I'll add you to a list of participants.

Be well this week. I promise next week's seed will be something less serious.

Welcome news this weekend

So many of us turned to 3191 in 2007 to see the beautiful images Mav and Stephanie posted of their mornings each day. I  knew early on in their project that this would make a wonderful book. Obviously, I was not alone. Read the 3191 announcement about their book. It is slated for publication this fall on Princeton Architectural Press. They have a new website for the book here where you can sign up for book news. Where do I sign up for a copy? If you are not familiar with their work, you really should treat yourself to a dip into their archives.  I'm not a morning person myself, so I'm always kind of in awe at what these ladies have seen and done long before my sleepy head  lifts from the pillow. On January 15, they will begin a new project on 3191 documenting their evenings. Can't wait.

The Food Network will start showing a new Jamie Oliver show called Jamie at Home, on January 12. The show will air at 9:30 am Saturdays in the U.S. I managed to score a sneak peek late Sunday night. This is not your typical slick cooking show. Starting out in a greenhouse plucking fresh produce right before its to be cooked, Jamie mucks about in a seriously rustic looking indoor kitchen and an outdoor one, too. I've always loved Jamie's irreverance and exuberance. According to his website info on this show "it’s a celebration of no-nonsense beautiful seasonal food – a proper cooking show for modern-day people." Sounds good to me. For other countries the show is airing in, check the listings on Jamie's tv page. I'm currently obsessed with the idea of growing my own food so I think this show will be ideal for me. Plus he's just excellent to watch. Ahem.
In the UK, BBC Channel 4 is airing a show called Jamie's Fowl Dinners. He's taking on the topic of the ways chickens are farmed in the UK. He's calling for farmers to use better conditions and consumers to buy better farmed birds. I don't see a way to watch BBC shows online. If someone knows, please let me know. He's also got some ideas for cooking with whole chickens instead of buying parts. I want to start making my own stocks this year. This just makes me want to get going immediately.

For those of you looking forlorn because your favorite shows are in hiatus due to the writers strike, you should be happy to know PBS is beginning to run Masterpiece: The  Complete Jane Austen series on January 13th. The series includes adaptations of all six of Austen's novels, including the must see version of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth. Oh. Mr. Darcy! My heart is palpitating already. This week kicks off with Persuasion. Following weeks include Northanger Abey, Mansfield Park, Miss Austen Regrets, Emma and Sense and Sensibility. The website has a Book and Film Club that will help you set up your own group to discuss away on your own.

Seed No.1 Wish Tree update

The Wish Tree project is taking off. This week, every small pitfall that has come my way- broken candy thermometer leading to burned sugar, overflowing the coffee pot, cutting my finger- have rolled over me easily. I can't be bothered by those minor inconveniences while this project is spreading it's roots across the blogosphere. My spirits are too high! When I first started the Saturday Seeds project, I did so timidly. I feared that no one would care what I thought or was attempting. That my purple ribbon would either fly embarrassingly alone or I'd feel so dejected that I wouldn't even hang my ribbon if it was alone. Amazingly, it will be joined by other ribbons coming from several countries and all over the United States. The list of wishers grows a little each day.

Did I make this happen? Having you reach out and join me bolsters me. I have a new found confidence in my potential. I wonder what else I  can accomplish. My instincts can be trusted. I feel full of hope and friendship. I am grateful to those of you that have posted about the project on your blogs and were moved to join me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

These photos are of the dogwood tree that will soon be adorned with our wish ribbons.  I can't wait to rephotograph it next week with our wishes hanging from it merrily.

Those that have joined the Wish Tree so far:

Daisies (her ribbon arrived on 1/22. It now flies on the tree with the others)

A Roam to Rome

Shades of Joan (ribbons received 1/19)

The Land of Moo (ribbon received 1/13)

Sticking to the Point  (didn't end up making it to the ceremony to hang her own. A golden ribbon was hung)

My Pocket (ribbon received 1/17)

Sometimes Everything (ribbon received 1/19)

Cean and Jen

Mormar

Periwinkle (Received 1/19 Her package contained wishes of a dozen women from the UK)

Strawberries (received 1/18)

Stories I Can Tell

Be Present Be Here

Hundred and One Things (choosing something courageous for her)

Notes on Life  (choosing a happy ribbon for her here)

Giggling in the Rain (finding something special for her here)

Muppinstuff (an orange ribbon was hung for her)

My Abundant Life  (picking something gorgeously textured for her)

Auntie Em's (received 1/18)

The One Little One   (choosing a sparkly ribbon for her)

Ease Between Notches

The Mad Ones (left a wish in the comments. choosing a ribbon for her here)

Pins and Pints (received 1/18)

There are more wishes coming in from some blogless people. In addition to a few of you who emailed me but didn't give me your blog addresses.

There is still plenty of time to send in your wish if you haven't done so already. Read the original Saturday Seed No 1- The Wish Tree post here.

See you back her tomorrow for Saturday Seed No.2.

 

Taking charge of my care

When I was a child, one of my favorite albums was Really Rosie with music by Carole King and story by Maurice Sendak, who I still love love love to this day. This album was so freaking good to me. I sang to it all the time. It came to my mind recently when one of my nephews was acting fresh. I told my mom we should get the record again to play him the song "Pierre."  It's about a naughty little boy that always says, "I don't care."  Pierre ends up getting eaten by a lion. (Don't worry kiddies, he gets out in the end.)

I've been described by some as someone who cares too much. Maybe it was "Pierre" that made me think not caring was a terrible state to be in and swear to always, always care.  My Grams once told me once "you always did care about things no one else cares about." I've worn that distinction like a badge over the years. A medal of honor earned in battle. Much of my work is an uphill struggle.  This past week I've ha several disheartening conversations in which I made  impassioned calls for change that were not acted upon.  It's dawned on me that sometimes other people do not care about what I care about. My first reaction was to think to myself this situation is breaking my heart. I have to fight harder. I have to make other people care.

I started drafting this message this morning dejected. Then this afternoon, someone came to me completely out of the blue and said "Thank you for caring."

All this caring can wear me out. Just as I got to the point where I was ready to say, "you know what, forget it. You've extinguished my interest in caring about this anymore,"   I get lured back in again.

I think it's time to take stock and most importantly charge of what I am caring about.

Things I care about right now:
My people. The crazy mixed up tribe of family and friends scattered all around the country and the globe. Those people that get me, support me, laugh at my silly jokes, dance with me til dawn, bring me a maraschino cherry on a spoon to make me feel better when I'm down and kiss me goodnight. The people that love me regardless of whether we're tied by blood or if we've butted heads in the past.

Seeking out the truth and sharing information. It's the reason I was drawn to being a journalist and why I've kept at it for close to twenty years now. Whether I'm addressing a half million newspaper readers, a handful of y'all in the blogosphere or a nice lady in the produce aisle, my mission is the same. I want to pass information on to other people that will inform them, rile them, make them smile, encourage them to take action, make them laugh out loud. In a word "engage" them.

The environment. It's been sixty degrees in January here in the North East. Global warming is on, people and only we can get it under control. I'd like to see some more snowflakes in my lifetime, thank you.

Art, music, books, films. I never tire of feeling a rush of emotion when watching a film, singing along to my new favorite song or old favorites, reading something that rocks my world. It's the creators of these art forms that I turn to again and again when my well of caring nears empty. All this beauty fills it back up again.

Myself. "Take care of yourself" is one of those totally overused sayings with almost no meaning anymore. Like "How are you?" People cringe when you start to answer. For a very long time, I thought I should care about others more than myself. That in doing so, I would be horribly selfish. Finally at 35, I realize I count just as much as everyone else. And dag nab it, I'm going to care about me. So there.

Self Portrait Challenge: Cheers, mates

It was hard for me to find the joy in celebrating the holidays this last go round. Somehow all the things that needed to be done outweighed the possibilities for fun in my mind. Having a mad work schedule did not help matters.

By New Year's Eve, i begrudgingly gave into have a good time surrounded my my friends, bottles of bubbly and hand after hand of Attack Uno. I started to feel a bit more festive. There was dancing and toasting and laughing til the wee hours.

Sometimes having the most fun takes the least effort. I'll have to make a note of that. I tend to forget.
This photo is not perfect. It isn't even in focus. But I look happier here than I can recall in quite a while. And that in itself is cause to celebrate.

For more people of the world united in sharing celebrations all month long, visit the other party animals at  Self Portrait Challenge.

Restorative weekend

I decided to not spend the first weekend  of 2008 totally on the go. I gave myself a break wherever I could. That feels sort of odd. I'm not usually down with lounging so much. I think my battery was very low and it needed to be recharged.

I normally cook on Sundays for the week. This week I got a jump on the task on Saturday afternoon. Within an hour I had two meals ready to go. First up, a hearty nourishing lentil soup. Then a stir fry of sugar snap peas, mushrooms, broccoli, water chestnuts and shrimp served over rice. Sweets took charge of Sunday's breakfast with a delicious smoked gouda omelette. On the side, we had some Hoppin' John and greens left over from New Year's Day. Jet very generously brought us a portion so our year would be full of luck. (Thanks, Jet!) As a special treat on Sunday night, we skipped having a proper dinner and fired up the deep fryer for a batch of hand cut pomme frites with garlicy mayonnaise.  Is that sinful or what?

I spent some time reading up on Northern California and planning  a trip there soon. We are going at a time that is great for seeing wildlife. If we are lucky we may see mating elephant seals and migrating monach butterflies. And a whale? I would so love to see just one of those amazing creatures in the wild!

It's that time of year when we try to catch up on any Oscar worthy movies before the awards season rolls around. Although it looks like there may not be a party this year. SAG announced over the weekend that actors won't be showing at the Golden Globes to show solidarity for the striking WGA. All the politics of the biz doesn't dampen our appetite for films.

On Saturday night we took in Atonement.  I think it's getting over hyped, personally. I had high hopes going in. In The Last King of Scotland, James McAvoy wowed me  with his performance.  His faun was my favorite part of  Narnia.  Yet, in this film  he's more scrumptious  than substance and I know he has far more depth than was  seen here.   The love story left me cold. I found myself more fascinated with the depictions of the war scenes in France and the in the hospital than the rest.

Yesterday, we took a road trip to a six screen art theater in Montclair, NJ. We opted for a double feature of The Savages and The Diving Bell and The Butterfly. Both  were exceptional. The Diving Bell is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. I'm still having trouble putting words together about it. It makes you feel something in the way a painting will often just grab hold of you and touch you in some deeply sensitive place and invoke a flood of emotions that you bewilders you. I encourage you to see both of these films. They celebrate humanity with humor and depth.

Before the films, we took a stroll around town. The photo above is of a shop window we came across. The business was not open and I have no idea it was really a business at all. It just spoke to me.

Saturday Seed No. 1

On Christmas morning, I opened a gift that had a beautiful purple fabric ribbon tied around it. When I unwrapped the box, I set the ribbon aside thinking to myself I should find a way to reuse it in the future. It was the only one I saved. A few days later, it migrated to a hook in the bedroom where I keep my necklaces and other pretty things I access often. When my eyes rested on it next, I got an idea of what to do with it.

Start a wish tree. Doesn't a tree made of wishes sound marvelous?

I love to make wishes. I make them on fallen eyelashes and shooting stars. You can't just sit around waiting all year to make a wish on your birthday cake candles. So often we wish things for other people. "I wish she would stop smoking" or "I wish she'd find someone to love" or "I wish Jack Black would be able to play a role without still acting like Jack Black" or "I wish they'd get the band back together." You know what I mean. Those wishes for other people are wasted, I think. Wishes are something you have to want. For yourself. I believe when you make a wish you open yourself to the potential for it to come true.

This month, each of my Saturday Seeds will focus on you. It's so easy to put your needs and desires on the back burner while you're taking care of everyone else in your life. This month is yours, baby.

For this week's seed, I invite you to make a wish. Choose something that is all yours. Wish for something you've wanted for so long you've begun to think it doesn't matter anymore, that it can't happen, that's it's silly to want. Wish for what your heart whispers to you when you least expect it.

Once you know what you'd like to wish, you can do one of two things.

1) Find yourself a pretty ribbon. Hold the ribbon in your hands and state your wish aloud. Charge that ribbon with your desire. Enclose your ribbon in an envelope and mail it me. Email me at  metaphoricalmagpie at yahoo.com for the mailing address.

2) Leave your wish in the comments or email it me. I'll select a ribbon for you here.

Anonymous wishes are welcome. Wishes from other people you'd like to share this experience with are welcome, too. The more wishes, the more wonderful the wish tree will look.

On Sunday  January 20th, I'll hold a wish ceremony here at my home. All the ribbons that I receive in the mail and online wishes will be collected together. I will tie each of your ribbons onto the dogwood tree in my front yard.  While tying on your ribbon I will state your name out loud. Friends that are local will be invited to join me in hanging their own wishes on the wish tree. My purple ribbon will join all of yours fluttering in the breeze.

Ribbons will stay on the tree until the dogwood starts to bloom in the spring. Then it's natural beauty will be  the show.

I believe the launch of this year long endeavor is a cause for celebration. I'll have some goody packages for the first person who emails me for the mailing address, the person who's ribbon I receive first and someone chosen randomly from all the participants.

Will you wish with me?

Allow me to plant a seed

Welcome, Friends!

Out of the silence from  blogging wordlessly,  an idea sprouted in my mind for a new project for 2008.  Posts will go up each Saturday morning of this year. Honestly, I'm working very instinctively here. I have a rough plan and I'm running with it. It feels good to just get going on something!

If you have visited here over the past three years, you'll know I love gardening. I have a smallish yard here that I try to make better each year. I started with a very English country garden in mind and now I'm more interested in growing more of our own food. Gardening on your own can be frustrating sometimes because there is so much I don't know. It's a lot of trial and error  to find what works. It is amazingly rewarding when things grow after you've planted them.

I adore the idea of a community garden. Whenever I come across one, I pause. If the gate is open, I walk in and take a look around at what's being planted and hopefully talk to some of the gardeners. I spent an amazing afternoon once in a community garden in the International District in Seattle. Set up on a hill, mostly older Asian gardeners were growing vegetables and a few flowers. When my friend and I arrived and shyly looked around we were first greeted warily by the gardeners. But when they saw how we were truly admiring their achievements and curious about learning more they flooded us with as much information as they could. Even if we were experiencing a bit of a communication problem. At the end of our visit,We left with lots of bows and handshakes and seeds for plants we'd never seen before wrapped up in bits of paper nestled safely in our pockets. Of all the places I've been on vacation over the years that unexpected garden stop is one of my favorite memories.

I've decided to call this yearlong project Saturday Seeds. My aim is to create a sort of virtual community garden if you will. Not so much for plants but for ideas. Each week, I intend to offer a seed here. Each month will have a theme. You can take the weekly seed and plant it in the garden of your life if you'd like to try growing it. One thing that amazes me about plants is the vast variety available. One doesn't just grow a watermelon. You could decide on a moon and stars variety, a sugar baby, a honeypot. A variety that is golden yellow or deep red. One that fruits early in the season or late. There are so many choices when you grow something for yourself instead of just settling for what's being offered to you on a shelf.

This project will allow us to make choices and interpret an idea each week. Only you can know which way it will best fit into your our own specific circumstances and conditions.

I'm hoping that each week's seed will be an inspiration for us all to try something new, be better to ourselves, our friends and partners, members of our communities and to be better stewards of our earth.

Please come back to visit tomorrow morning for the first seed. I can't wait to begin sharing them with you.

xoxo,
Rachel

Ready or not, It's a new year

Hello 2008.

Pleased to meet you. I've heard through the grapevine that you're a good egg. I'm just not sure I'm ready for you to replace 2007.

You see it was a pretty fine year and I'm not sure I want to let it go. I'm terrible at goodbyes, don't you know. Well how could you 2008, we just met. We don't know each other at all yet. Now do we? We're still in the exchanging pleasantries stage. Nice weather today, eh?

Last year and I, we had our good times. Think you can match that, 2008? I don't know. Don't be cocky. It was a pretty amazing year.

Sweets and I worked tremendously hard on our wedding. No planner for us. We chose just about every detail together and did so much to make it an event that was truly our own.  There were invitation packages that we designed, printed, hand deckled and stamped. Sweets made an amazing map of Philadelphia for our guests to use and then we used it on our mini-break holiday after the wedding. We nestled robin blue egg candies in birds nestsand hand tied over 100 bows on the favors. Cyndemouse, JPo, T-La, the best man, Jason, and our mothers helped with preparations, too. So much thought and time went into making sure almost all the materials we used were recycled or recyclable. Including the recycled paper, envelopes and favor boxes, the living terrarium centerpieces with thrifted bird figurines inside. The music we played, the poems that were read and even the flowers we used all had special meanings. The gathering of so many of the people that are truly special in our lives was amazing. We saw people from both of our lives intermingling, laughing, dancing and toasting our happiness. Standing there before all of them with Sweets during our marriage ceremony was profoundly emotional for me. My tears took me by surprise.

Since that day, we've tried to get settled in to all the things about being married that make your life slightly different than you expected before taking your vows. It's as if before we were the two halves of an Oreo cookie. The same for the most part. Living in the same box comfortably. But then we got the bright idea to join together with a creamy filling. Everyone knows what a perfect marriage an Oreo cookie has. We are now a slightly different version of our old selves, firmly bonded to each other ready to take sweet nibbles of life together or  a few dunkings in life's glass of milk from time to time.

Other good things that happened last year:
We made our home more energy efficient
We stopped using plastic bags in most cases
We grew our own tomatoes
I made the resolution to correspond more and kept it. I love writing letters and receiving them.
I was more mindful of my actions and the reasons behind them
My family ties grew stronger
I helped people when they needed it
I felt loved by many
I spent good times with my girlfriends
I did my job well even when other people didn't notice
We started some of our own traditions
I switched to compact flourescent bulbs
I connected with more people in "real" life and through blogging
I figured out how to set up an RSS feed all by myself
I started composting and reduced our garbage output by about 50%
I tested my boundaries and grew as a person
I found my passion

So, you see, 2008, you have some mighty big shoes to fill.

Let's take it slow and see what happens. It looks like we're stuck with each other. We might as well make the best of it. What do you say?