Nancy*McKay

on hold...

2012-01-31T03:00:00.001-05:00

Winter has been holding her breath, here in this cement canyon that i have become accustomed to living in. No r.e.a.l. cold temperatures, and, sadly for me...no snow. At all. Instead, it's been rather unpredictable day to day, even hour to hour. Yesterday, I saw warmer temps in the morning (so I wore my Barbour oilcloth to work, sans scarf & gloves) turning into grey, turbulent & ghostly skies; then morphing into a mid afternoon squall, which diffused into a sweet, sunny & bright, blue eyed smile...only to snap right back into a cold, smart~ass attitude. I can't tell if it's the extreme dose of Vitamin C + Zinc + echinacea I'm taking nightly or the vaccine I received in October that's keeping me from coming down with the flu...but I'm getting through it.

Really, I am okay.

I awoke this morning feeling happy...heart happy...and it's a GLORIOUS thing! Having spent the last 7 weeks in a state of...shall i say, numbing sadness, depression & sorrow...this shower of happiness feels familiar & it feels r.i.g.h.t. I knew the moment I woke up that I had been blessed with a gift of understanding, release & pure joy. It came to me in the form of a dream, & for that I am truly grateful. But for all those days between then & now, as I held my breath & lost my voice & submerged into the turbulent, ghostly, & unpredictable, I had your love, support & encouragement & your gifts. I am indebted to each & every one of you, special ladies that I can call A FRIEND.

And so, my friends, this is for you. This is my note to thank you, beyond what words can express, for shining your light on me throughout my darkness. For holding my hand, & my heart, in yours. For reminding me that life & the love of that life, after death, continues on...in ALL ways, in any form, & no matter how unpredictable. So I will hold on & continue to love that ever present S.P.I.R.I.T. of my sweet boy in a new way...& it will feel all right.

Really, it IS all right.

the deep end...

2012-01-09T01:44:00.000-05:00

I remember learning how to swim when i was a young girl. I was in gym class & forced to jump off a diving board into the deep end of the pool. All my life, up until that point, swimming meant standing in knee deep water holding my ground while the waves of Lake Michigan crashed, chest high, into me. I liked the beach & wearing my 2 piece suits. I was never alone, always having someone to grab onto or run ashore to. & I never made it past the breakers. & i never got my face wet. Some summers the lake was so polluted with dead alewives we couldn't even walk the shoreline, let alone take a dip in the ice cold water. So standing in single file with my other classmates, all wearing the school issued, stiffly bleached 1 piece swimsuit (& for me, all too short for my long torso) waiting for that dreaded whistle to blow designating my turn to jump...just wasn't my style. In fact, it scared me. Like a cow to slaughter, i was poked & prodded & i bucked & resisted & moved back in line as far back as I could go, every time, until there was no one else left for me to hide behind...until it was just me, all alone, out on that diving board. I can still see the coach standing on the side of the pool waving that aluminum pole, whistle in mouth, screeching "Get Going, JUMP, we haven't got all day, JUMP now, you're the LAST one, now GET GOING, juuuuuuuump!" Every time I wanted to turn & run, turn & run, ruuuuun...but I didn't. & each time I'd tug once more, at my wedgie, & adjust once more, my bathing cap, & I'd hold my shallow breath & close my eyes & I'd j.u.m.p. But as soon as I'd surface, my flailing arms would grab for her dangling aluminum pole so that I could be pulled out of that scary deep end & into the sacred shallows. Twice a week for 8 weeks I feared my way through swimming class, but I never got used to it & i never liked it. Funny, I'm feeling at the edge right now. At the deep end. Again. Being poked & prodded while i buck & resist. My heart is pounding. I don't like it & I'm uncomfortable. My chest feels tight & my breaths are short & shallow. Only, instead of fear I feel pain & sadness. & I feel like running. Again. Forest Gump-like running... running&running&running until I just can't run anymore. Until the sadness swims away.

auld lang syne...

2011-12-23T17:51:00.000-05:00

thank you friends for visiting me here, leaving your love, prayers & your comments...as well as those who sent me personal letters, over the past 2 weeks while I struggled with the sudden illness & death of my Abyssinian, Puja. I cannot express enough, in words, the comfort it has given me & how it continues to help me process & grieve this huge loss. i love you all very much. peace be with you this holiday. xo

sleep in heavenly peace...

2011-12-19T12:54:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, while I was at work, my precious boy, Puja Shin, passed away in my husband's arms as sweet love messages were whispered in his ear. He was our best boy, a bird boy (wouldn't eat red meat) & as our friend Jimmy would say...a wolf~boy! He taught me many, many things but the best of all was that he taught me how to love him with such a tenderness. He had a gentle heart, a strong character, a mischievous mind & one great spirit. We were his pride. He was our joy...and He was also a momma's boy. We spoiled him oodles & he deserved it. He lived a really good, loved & long life: 2/11/1998 ~ 12/18/2011.He was such a smart & beautiful Abyssinian boy, andHe was so good to me.We were blessed to have had him in our lives. He was a special gift. There's a stillness in our home, his home, this home now that he's gone, and a very quiet light. a very quiet light. I miss him so very much. I miss him so much.

silent nights...

2011-12-09T22:30:00.001-05:00

i am struggling right now.little things seem so BIG,and big things seem so unimportant. i don't know how to do this.i don't know if i can,yet i know i must. somehow. find the strength.cradle the love.kiss the soul&lift the spiritof my sweet dying boy.soak in every last bit of tendernessevery last purr,that i can.&do it right.i must. do him right.i am in a quiet light these days.i am in a quiet light. XO

If only I could fly...

2011-11-13T19:39:00.000-05:00

only you would understand...

2011-11-10T16:43:00.001-05:00

the Eagle has landed,

bearing tender gifts for a wild heart...

sometimes the message travels on the tip of a wing

love is a feather.

above & beyond...

2011-11-03T10:39:00.000-04:00

you're up, up in the air by now,

our home is silent & still.

i miss your movement

your noise.

a day...

2011-10-15T21:44:00.001-04:00

i had a day in the park last week & it looked like this

it began w/friends at a pond off of 5th Ave & 106th St

and ended with those same friends

(strawberry margaritas & one "possible" wedding date...jimmy: you can do it!)

on 38th Street.

there was a lot of talking,

a little photo shooting,

a lot of walking.

i learned something about myself that day...

in a city of 8.1 million people,

i have no interest in photographing any of them.

case in point...only 6 photos to share...sans peeps.

it's just a glimpse...
a little slice of the peace & tenderness that can coexist with the over abundance of stimulus.
peace & tenderness...

just the way i like it.

Good Golly Miss Molly...

2011-10-08T01:00:00.000-04:00

i just opened my mail box & fell in love...

Have you seen

THIS?

It is inside the new October ANTHROPOLOGIE catalog,

specifically on the back cover...

featuring our fellow Etsian potter...

Miss Molly Hatch!!!

I know first hand how beautiful her hand painted ceramics are

now the world can!

CONGRATS MOLLY!

Thank you for making my every morning pot of tea,

my every lunch, brunch & celebratory dinner,

his every afternoon coffee break,

our just desserts...so much more beautiful because of your creativity!

a tart&tiny tribute...

2011-10-04T23:52:00.000-04:00

photo by Jillian Lukiwski of thenoisyplume

i can only imagine...

what she smelled like,

how soft her ears were,

how striking those baby blues were in person,

what it must have felt like to hold that sweet, precious face in the palms of your hands,

what it was like to be licked by her, bitten by her, & loved by her,

how well she behaved or how nasty she played,

what made her laugh or made her bark,

if she slept with you, Penelope or Farley in the dark,

what her favorite toy was,

what her favorite joy was,

if she listened to beethoven, beyonce or rock,

if she napped in the afternoon & if she snored at night,

if she was a campfire girl, a mommy's girl or a daddy's girl,

if she swam in the rivers & ran in the moonlight,

if she dreamed in color or black & white?

i can't imagine...

losing her, and the way in which you did.

JL & RW,

my heart aches for your loss...

she heels at heaven's gate for you.

XO
~nMc~

the end of the affair...

2011-09-25T17:19:00.000-04:00

let's be honest

it's been a struggle since day 1.

i thought i knew what i was getting into...

i had no idea i would lose control. of myself.

i was seduced by your good looks, charm & popularity.

EVERYbody was talking about you!

i wanted some of that too.

you have sooooo many friends

i needed one. a friend.

just not hundreds.

& you sure do know how to throw a gooood party!

but when i caught you out one night, "Social Network" ing

i wanted to end our relationship right then & there.

i could see clearly then how you didn't have

my best interests in mind. ever.

it was always all about YOU.

but i didn't end it, instead i waited.

i thought there might be some old, long lost friend trying to find me.

i don't have any old, long lost friends.

and i thought we'd make good business partners,

but you have no business knowing my business.

when i shared my thoughts & feelings with you, you kept nothing private.

when i'd come to visit, you'd invite all of your friends.

we were never alone. i felt like a nosy parker...

that's really not who i am.

i should have known. better.

so, i'm breaking up with you, B.F. i mean, F.B. cuz

i'm really not that into you.

of course you'll be fine without me,

why i'm betting that you won't even miss me,

little ol' me!

but incase you do,

you'll have my profile, postings & photos at your fingertips,

to use anytime & any way you want.

like i've never left. like you own me.

well, you do now.

don't you.

toodles

Have a Great Life!

beauty in the unexpected...

2011-09-20T01:50:00.000-04:00

i had other things on my mind this morning with a to~do list a mile long. in between kissing the husband goodbye @ the elevator & welcoming the plasterer inside to repair the living room from the damage caused by last month's hurricane rains, i sat for a brief moment in a peaceful silence & a warming light. i caught time standing still for me & it changed my focus. for a brief moment time was no one else's but mine. & in the details of the simplest things i enjoyed the beauty in the unexpected.

*Small Collections Ring: When this Desert was the Ocean Floor by The Noisy Plume

*Pisces Meets Taurus Leather Bag by Linny Kenney

*Organic coffee by Le Pain Quotidien

my one & only...

2011-09-12T22:23:00.004-04:00

Spartacus...

~our beautiful young warrior~

may you rest in peace...

om shanti, shanti, shanti

It's not often that when our tv is playing the History Channel isn't on. A sunday evening back in 2010 was one of those rare moments when the station being viewed belonged to Starz & the program playing was Spartacus: Blood & Sand. Normally, a title with the combination of words such as blood...sand...wouldn't interest me, but the minute i saw that Thracian Gladiator with the piercing blue eyes, my attention was full on. His performance was powerful & captivating! As Robert Lloyd from the LA Times so kindly wrote of Andy Whitfield as Spartacus: "handsome and buff and smart & beastly." oh my.

As the show progressed & characters such as Lucretia (played awesomely by Lucy Lawless) & Batiatus, played intensely by John Hannah (remember him in 3 Weddings & a Funeral?) were introduced, i was completely hooked! Yes it was bloody, but Gladiators do what Gladiators must; and yes it was sexually explicit, well, Romans do what Romans must. Mostly it was thoroughly entertaining & after all is said & done, told us a story inspired by a historical figure! Without a doubt, i looked forward to my sunday evenings w/my warrior!

I will miss Andy in the lead role. He will always be my one & only...Spartacus.

~May you rest in blissful peace & may your spirit run wild, run free.~
namaste

nyc...10yrs after...

2011-09-11T22:42:00.002-04:00

why is the CAPE my wardrobe essential?

2011-09-11T02:21:00.001-04:00

because it looks & feels so good.

try it on for size...you might never take it off.

recreating...

2011-09-06T13:18:00.006-04:00

in a new way,

because of YOU...thank you!

September Session #2

2011-09-04T00:03:00.000-04:00

September Session: #1

2011-09-02T09:50:00.002-04:00

September Session...

2011-09-01T23:23:00.006-04:00

Just picture it!

I'm going to be savoring the month of September, one photo at a time!

Inspired by a few of my blogger friends who participated in Susannah Conway's: The August Break 2011 last month, I've decided to do a similar project and I'm calling it September Session: Just picture it!

Enjoy the opportunity to express yourself with a photograph or two!

You can post a single image, with or without words,

once a day, once a week or even once in the month!

You can post a collage, with or without words,

once a day, once a week or once in the month!

It's your decision.

Anything goes!

So if you're like me & have a lot going on this month or just up for the challenge...
come participate in September Session: Just picture it!

Take a break or take a challenge by taking a picture
&
have FUN with it!

Enjoy the month!

be back in a jiffy...

2011-08-22T13:51:00.000-04:00

sink & swim...

2011-08-11T23:05:00.001-04:00

this is one of those times,

to spread my wings

reach deep into my soul.

to sink

swim.

to backstroke

float.

to dive

live.

to free fall

sail.

this is one of those times.

i am here

~souLodge~

i am treading in deep waters.

i am excited.

i am searching.

i am bursting.

ready

to play, to explore, to share

& set my wild animal spirit

free.

before i wake...

2011-07-24T21:11:00.004-04:00

sometimes i drift into a place

where i am hovering in the darkness

there is light.

beautiful light.

i float between the strands of time
where nothingness
is
everything.
it is unborn.
it is sublime.

waves lapping against the quay

merging & dissolving my body

flames engulfing the birch wood log

igniting & melting my heart

winds swaying through the long, tall grass

stirring & purifying my spirit

roots twisting out of the tall white pine

penetrating & anchoring my soul

free floating spirit...

thoughtless
speechless
senseless

i cease to be

weightless
breathless
nimbus

i am whole.

staying positive...

2011-06-18T11:22:00.001-04:00

i was going to start out this post by complaining how i didn't get to go to Paris/Marseilles&Provence...but i changed my mind. i decided to see it from an alternative point of view & trash my complaints, look at my time spent cleaning, rehanging pictures, vintage prints & a 20lb oil painting, moving furniture back & forth & up & down, purging all sorts of things (byeBYE magazines)...with a positive spin! well now that wasn't so hard.

i really enjoyed my time away.
i stayed home & cleaned a lot...A LOT (bedroom looks smashing, new ceiling & all)!
i brought home lilacs, lovely lilacs.
i doooo love lilacs.
i set a killer table with my lilacs & oh~so pretty~in~pink ceramics.
i made one FANTASTIC brunch on that killer table.
i helped reorganize our library.
i brought books to work for my coworkers to read, they were so pleased.
i cleaned every piece of silver jewelry i have.
my silver jewelry sparkles now.
one bathroom got repainted. white.
i like a white bathroom. my master bath is tiled floor to ceiling in an awful old&ugly, pink&grey pinstripe & i can't do anything about it (oops i slipped into negative) except...LIVE with it & ENJOY it to the best that i can...hmmmm.
we went out for Magaritas one night. :)
i bathed once.
i'm joking...TWICE it was!
i thought of all of you many, many, many times throughout my staycay.
i received wonderful cards & letters from loving friends.
i didn't go near a computer. my nails are unpolished & chewed raw...i mean au naturale & short.
hubby bought me a laptop.
it's a really nice laptop.
:))))))))
& now...
i'm veryVERYvery happy.
the hives have disappeared. headaches & bodyaches gone. plaster dustDUSTdust wiped out. attitude is 100% in alignment & that's a really good thing.
needless to say i MISSED YOU all & have lots of catching up to do!
look out, here i come!
XO

2011-06-12T22:55:00.004-04:00

i didn't mean to take another week off, but i did & i will see you all next week...ENJOY!
with peace, love, beauty & a whole lotta gratitude!
OxO!
~N

alleluia...

2011-06-05T23:24:00.002-04:00

we literally have a roof over our heads & can sleep at night!

our vaycay turned into a staycay BUT...

peace, love & the lightness of being

returns!

THANK YOU for missing me as much as I have missed all of YOU!

YESTERDAY:

TODAY:

i'm on my way...

2011-06-01T23:37:00.006-04:00

...home!

i miss my space,

my room,

my side,

my closet,

my southern city view,

my window a/c,

my bathroom,

my mon~petite east river view.

all of it,

especially

our desktop,

because i miss all of YOU!

my days of camping out in the living room are nearing the end, YAY, as the serious repairs to our ceiling are almost complete...i couldn't stand it any longer so we snuck into our bedroom, unwrapped the armoire, plugged in the mac so we could reconnect...here are the pics... & i'll see you all SOON!

everyone needs a rock...

2011-05-06T10:46:00.005-04:00

how FOXY can a rock be???

just look at this one

found & painted by AMY...

she's so talented

so adorable

JUST LOOK at her art,

they are ALL so beautiful & collectible!

THANKS AMY,

everybody needs an ARTIC rock

i love my Foxy & Lichen!

my cinco de mayo...

2011-05-05T17:29:00.009-04:00

can you hear me?

can you see me?

can you feel the strings

of my heart

pulling tighter than a kite's,

today?

i miss you.

can you push away the clouds

far enough to see

my light

long enough

to take my picture?

don't forget.

celebrate...

it is your day.

always will be.

yours.
mine.

love to you.

the sounds of silence. sometimes...

2011-05-03T00:50:00.004-04:00

sometimes i find myself

standing still

silently

listening

to the flow of sound

around me.

it bends, sways & swirls

it whispers and it whistles

half truths & sad songs

of unkept promises & broken dreams

of old souls on bended knees

warriors lost to conquerers

in the silence of speech

i weep

sometimes.

while i'm standing

tall.

~nMc~

Haiku: take flight...

2011-05-01T23:09:00.003-04:00

with a blink of an eye

a new focus

a new light

white.

with a promise

& a kiss
of a gentle wind-

spring
it's been a long time coming

green.

i want to fly above the treetops tonight.

have you ever...

2011-04-16T23:11:00.003-04:00

felt a little something brush past you, but when you turned to look over your shoulder...
nothing was there?
or
seen a little dark shadow out of the corner of your eye scamper by, but when you glanced up...
nothing was there?
or
stood at the kitchen sink with your back towards the table & heard a little mischief going on cuz you thought the cat was in your buttered toast, but when you returned & he was sweetly sleeping in a chair in another room and saw that...
nothing else was there?

weird? eerie? spooky? paranormal?

Whinny?
Neigh?

okay, good...i thought for a minute i was going crazy!

my ceramic appaloosa was handmade by
SongandBranch
& along with other adorable ceramic figurines can be found on Etsy HERE! they are just sooooo CUTE...check them all out!

full frame...

2011-04-07T20:05:00.001-04:00

a day's half over

thoughts half spoken

words half written

gardens half grown

plans half made

dreams barely woken.

secrets fully locked inside

a life half lived.

see you later...

2011-03-30T23:50:00.002-04:00

bon voyage march!

it was a wild & wooly month!

have you got everything packed?

don't forget the hail, sleet & snow...

is the gas tank full?

don't forget to make a left @ the last light...

it's been a good, long visit

& i'm sorry to see you go

but there's a gentle, warm breeze knocking on my door,

and she's bearing gifts of sunshine, blue skies,

green leaves

purple buds...

how can a girl refuse a visit from a friend like this?
PS...& she's not allergic to cats!

new beginnings...

2011-03-19T06:36:00.002-04:00

& for a really good cause...

please visit

my newly created photoblog

APPALOOSA*MOON

ETSY SHOP!!!

i think you'll love them!

~ and to everyone who kept asking me "WHEN?" thank you! ~

and let us pray...

2011-03-13T18:28:00.002-04:00

i am a blue girl...

2011-03-10T19:50:00.001-05:00

THANK YOU

marie*bell,

THANK YOU

jillian

you know & love me oh~so well!

...i am grateful beyond words...

XOXO

memories of you...

2011-03-07T19:14:00.001-05:00

i really fell in love.

head over heels

with this small community

of very kind, generous people

beautiful scenery.

oh, the scenery.

those mountains

& those falls.

filled with history

secrets

legends

romance

ghosts.
i was awed, warmed, moved, welcomed & comfortable.

i really fell in love.

until we meet again...

i will tune into your sounds of silence, when the static here unnerves me.

i will close my eyes & imagine your bright blues, when the rainy gray days overshadow me.

i will lift my soul to your heights, when my challenges weigh me downdowndown.

i will wrap myself in your soft blanket of snow, when this cement canyon gets too hard & too heated.

i will dream of your luminous spirit, when my nightmares grow too dark.

i will slip you in the pocket of my heart, wear you like my favorite jeans,

and when i'm feeling tattered & frayed,

you will feel like home...

it will comfort me.

where i've been...

2011-03-01T20:25:00.002-05:00

words cannot begin to describe

the softness

the blue white sky

the fresh fallen snow

the bare trees

the woodsmoke scented air

the bobcat tracks

the full moon

the spirit of this place...
so take a peek for yourself &
see the beauty

that swayed my heart

captured my soul...

that felt like a place called home.

...it's that time...

2011-02-15T12:31:00.001-05:00

my True valentine...

2011-02-14T11:20:00.004-05:00

he can jump to the moon when i call his name

he can cuddle with me all night long

he sits with me

takes tea with me

he listens to my every word...

he's handsome

smart

it was love @ first sight...

and he laughs at all my jokes!

...Cut it OUT...

2011-02-07T17:57:00.001-05:00

sometimes friends do the darndest things...

THANK YOU

mariebell

i enjoyed having my tea with the herd!

xoxo

in my dream...

2011-02-01T21:06:00.005-05:00

we stood before a doorway

face to face,

you were dangling a key.

when i looked into your eyes

i saw home,

everything that grounded me

...

everything

that

turned

away

...

i took the key, unlocked the door,

crossed the threshold alone

never

looked

back.

dwell...ing

2011-01-14T19:34:00.006-05:00

dwell...DURABILITY, verbs: endure, last, abide, continue, go on,
live on, persist, remain, stay,

brave a thousand years...

it was no ordinary day,

quite the opposite,

it was a day of celebration

UmberDove

sent me a gift

by the name of

Dwell

dwell...HABITATION, verbs: inhabit, occupy, reside, live, lodge,
hang out, room, perch, nest,

remain a thousand years...

in no ordinary way,

my heart and my home

have been

graced with a special spirit,

that will live to

light a thousand years...

Thank You lovely lady,

Kelly Clark

from the bottom of my heart...
i love you & your incredible ART!

dwell has won us over!

...northern lights over teepees...

2011-01-02T23:26:00.005-05:00

New Year's resolution #1: spend some time in a teepee under northern lights up north!

This last photo is of a fire rainbow- the rarest of all naturally occurring atmospheric phenomena.

The picture was captured on the Idaho/Washington border. The event lasted about an hour.

Clouds have to be cirrus, at least 20K feet in the air, with just the right amount of ice crystals and the sun has to hit the clouds at precisely 58 degrees.

Heavenly!

http://www.adventures.ca/gasnet/abv.htm

...togetherness...

2010-12-31T16:01:00.007-05:00

as i wipe a sweet tear

from the corner of my eye

for you...

2010

you have been so good

to me

good friends

woven together

by love,

understanding,

such a grand

spirit...

may we grow

another,

beautiful, blessed
& blissful

year

together.

~ thank you, friends, for all of your support & laughter throughout the year

i love you ALL~

...miracle on 41st Street...

2010-12-29T12:06:00.001-05:00

...& a merry christmas to all...

2010-12-24T18:51:00.001-05:00

may yours be very merry & bright...

...i feel it in my toes...

2010-12-14T17:36:00.001-05:00

i feel it coming on...the spirit.
it's growing deep within me.
it's taken awhile...
as some of you know, i've been quite bratty lately...working hard & hardly playing. no snow, no meteor showers, no jingle no jangle. but...Frank is on the stereo & hubby came home with bunches of tree toppers, purchased from a Christmas Tree salesman standing vigil on the sidewalk...the farmers come from upstate ny, vermont, new hampshire & pennsylvania, once a year & park their campers alongside the curbs...rotating shifts, & staying fed & keeping warm inside their mobile homes throughout the day & night, with either just a family member, partner or friend for help...just to sell someone that perfect tree! they line up the city blocks with all sorts of fir trees: tall ones, short ones, skinny ones & plump ones, in anticipation that someone will claim one as their very own. each year, we ask for just the toppings...cut from trees that stand a little too tall for an apartment ceiling, an angel or a star. years ago these clippings were given to me free of charge as the farmers considered them discards...now we pay a price for their bough bundles...which is okay by me, as the saying goes: someone's trash is another's treasure...and those men are away from their loved ones and their homes at this special time, no doubt they pay a price to make that dollar. & so we light a fire & sip hot toddies while we decorate the mantle with these boughs...i lay the branches one by one & arrange my oil lamps, mercury glass balls & clip~on birds...he holds the strand of white lights steady while i weave it through each fir finger & toe...my hands soak up the sap. every year is just a little different from the last, yet every year has its own magic. so i'm beginning to feel the spirit now...i see it in my home & feel it in my soul. even though the weather outside is gloomy...pine permeates my senses & my heart is beginning to snow.

...oh babycakes...

2010-12-09T16:43:00.001-05:00

have you heard of BabyCakes?
i hadn't...until my friend Nicole turn me on to this book...
i loveLOVElove it...
she also mentioned that there's a BabyCakes Cafe, right here in this city~o~mine! i've never been there, didn't even know it existed...until my friend Nicole told me.

ahhhhh for the love of dear friends who have your best interests @ heart!
thank you mon (agave) sweet!

...life's cycles...

2010-12-03T23:42:00.002-05:00

his & hers...& oh, how she loves to make a statement!

...stormy weather...

2010-12-01T17:39:00.006-05:00

hello december...

you pack a punch today,

with such turbulent winds,

& punishing rain.

watching from the inside out,

i stand sheltered

against your temper,

as you rattle my windows

& shake my rafters...

it's quite the tantrum today,

are you angry with me

with the world?

come in,

let's talk things over...

perhaps a cup of tea will calm your senses

& settle your woes...

maybe change your mood into something

a little less heated & a little more frosty...

a special Thank You! to my fellow New Yorker, Stepanka for her lovely & cheerful ceramics...you can bring the GOOD CHEER to your home by visiting her Etsy shop: HERE!

...ground hog day...

2010-11-28T23:36:00.001-05:00

i wish i could go back to bed, fall asleep, wake up & relive Thanksgiving Day...all over again!
i loved every minute of it...yes, even hand washing all the dishes @ midnight...it was a WONDERFUL mix of good, loving friends, good, GOOD food, a cool crisp afternoon & a toasty warm abode...so, Maestro, ONE MORE TIME please!

thank you ever so much to my family of friends for visiting me & mine on that very special day...carrie, jimmy, gilbert, rick & mikey...i love you all very, very much!

...a SMILE's worth...

2010-11-16T13:15:00.001-05:00

PeACe begins with a SMiLE ~Mother Teresa

a SMILE is a means of communication.
a SMILE is recognized as an emotion throughout the world.
a SMILE can denote one's pleasure, happiness, amusement or even anxiety.

a SMILE can be spontaneous.
a SMILE can be artificial.
a SMILE can show a dimple or two... :)

it can accompany a scrunch of the nose
&
lift your cheeks, your spirit, your mood.
it can even lead to...laughter.

Happiness is the motivating cause of a smile,
most often.

And...
you can SMILE with your eyes.

SMiLE - sunshine is good for your teeth! ~unknown author

after reading ANDREA's post, 100 DAYS, back in September,
i was inspired to "do" something! and that something
turned into one of the most interesting projects i have ever committed myself to. it is a simple project & a work in progress, something i'm doing each & every day; and it's something i thought i'd share with you here & now.

living in one of the most fabulous cities of the world offers me the
opportunity to see some of the most fascinating people that walk,
run & wander, through its crowded streets each & every day.
no lie, on average, i see over 100 people a day! and the beauty is that the majority are faces i've never seen before! and so, my project has been a mission to SMILE...really smile...

(you know that kind of smile, the one you see when walking towards a person in a crowded place, like Grand Central Station, shuffling through the crowds, rushing to get to that train to get to work on time, & that person just happens to look at you, really look at you, not up, down, or away from you, but right in the eyes...because they see your smile & they've connected...they understand...& in that split second of passing each other by...they smile right back! now that's the kind of SMILE i'm talking about!)

...SMILE at just one, unknown, person each day, until the end of the year. that's it! that's my mission & i'm half way through my 100 SMILE project...so i'll be updating you in january of 2011...

:)

until then, keep SMILING!

And a very SPECIAL THANK YOU! to MichaelaDawn for handcrafting my LOVELY custom Beanie(s) & Fight Fair Fingerless Gloves...they keep me smiling all the while i'm wearing them! XOXO

...well hello lover...

2010-11-01T17:02:00.003-04:00

i never know when you will visit

until it happens & you are there,

in the room~ beaming~ as only you can do.

no warning, no advance notice,

no cards, no letters. ever. it's just not in your nature...

to be predictable.

somedays you burst right in

with the nonchalance of a scorpio lover

that is always inviting, stingingly sexy & oh~so welcome.

but this morning you move tenderly through my room...

you sneak up behind me as i brew my pot of tea,

almost unnoticed,

gently touching every part of me

almost as if

you...

missed me...

i can hear your sweet whispers as they softly nibble

the tips of my ears, with a warmth & a delight that

only you know...how to give.

you never stay for very long, yet you guiltlessly

leave me

with a lingering taste upon my sun kissed lips...

of wanting more, dear lover, always wanting more of you~

if i could,

i would...

rise with you in the east

set with you in the west

forever...& a day.

~nMc~

...the buzz...

2010-10-29T13:19:00.012-04:00

started with this lovely... HERE

then left an impression with this lovely...HERE

which is when i caught on to it, & couldn't resist...

& so, today...here is my AG inspiration!

Thank you!

~I hope it inspires YOU to have a noteworthy day!~

...to the sea...

2010-10-20T22:24:00.003-04:00

it's becoming a ritual,

a drive out to the ocean,

on a Sunday in October

to the Eastern sea...

just the two of us,

rain or shine,

to a very special place,

a peaceful place,

that never fails

to remind me

of the magic

the beauty

that surrounds me...

how it refreshes

my heart

inspires my spirit

soothes my soul...

...october haiku...

2010-10-16T15:23:00.016-04:00

~shadows

all around me

petals falling

leaves swirling

i'm stirring...

morning cup of tea~

*nMc*

fyi: did you know that if you place a copper penny in a vase with water,

your tulip stems won't droop...
case in point, they're old & dead BUT not droopy!

although, i have to say, sometimes i like droopy tulips.

...October PINK...

2010-10-10T22:16:00.005-04:00

B. Cause.

because.

of yoU.

...for R.M. Preston...

2010-10-06T17:14:00.009-04:00

...you may visit her here: Monster Goldfish & please give this lovely lady your kind thoughts and blessings...

Happiness cannot be found
through great effort and willpower,
but is already present, in open relaxation and letting go.

Don't strain yourself,
there is nothing to do or undo.
Whatever momentarily arises in the body/mind
has no real importance at all,
has little reality whatsoever.
Why identify with, and become attached to it,
passing judgment upon it and ourselves?

Far better to simply
let the entire game happen on its own,
springing up and falling back like waves-
without changing or manipulating anything-
and notice how everything vanishes and
reappears, magically, again and again,
time without end.

Only our searching for happiness
prevents us from seeing it,
it's like a vivid rainbow which you pursue without ever catching,
or a dog chasing its own tail.
Although peace & happiness do not exist
as an actual thing or place,
it is always available
and accompanies you every instant.

Don't believe in the reality
of good and bad experiences;
they are like today's ephemeral weather,
like rainbows in the sky.

Wanting to grasp the ungraspable,
you exhaust yourself in vain.
As soon as you open and relax this tight fist of grasping,
infinite space is there- open, inviting, and comfortable.

Make use of this spaciousness, this freedom and natural ease.
Don't search any further.
Don't go into the tangled jungle
looking for the great awakened elephant,
who is already resting quietly at home
in front of your own hearth.
Nothing to do or undo.
nothing to force,
nothing to want.
and nothing is missing-

Emaho! Marvelous!
Everything happens by itself.

~Free and Easy: A Spontaneous Song~
by Venerable Lama Gendun Rinpoche
Translated @ Dakpo Kagyu
Ling in Dordogne, France

...Dona nobis pacem, pacem...

2010-10-01T16:40:00.002-04:00

~give us peace, peace~

because it's been on my mind a lot lately. Peace.
& Love.
Peace evolves from love. Love evolves from peace.
the two words are used almost synonymously, in many traditions.
& in all spiritual traditions Peace is of a primary importance.

& because it's been on my mind a lot lately, i send you my blessings, on this first day of October...
may your weekend be filled with, honest to goodness, Peace&Love...make it real. make it happen.

...going green...

2010-09-29T17:10:00.001-04:00

After eating all of the peach raspberry pie & the chocolate chip cookies...by. my. self...that i baked, last weekend & just a couple of days ago, all with the intention of sharing...but i didn't...i'm going to be doing a lot more of this, plus, HE raw'ks it! and i know you can dig it Michaela! xoxo

...monday, monday...

2010-09-27T21:05:00.001-04:00

it was quite the rainy day today. it still is, raining, as i type this.
my man is on his way home from work. i have dinner cooking on the stove...we'll have a garden salad, linguine w/red lobster sauce...i'll add some cooked shrimp & asparagus to the sauce...before we twirl our noodles, we'll sit & have a glass of wine & he'll ask me how my day off from work was...& i'll tell him this: it was as sweet as could be & i spent the day indoors, all of it...watching a strangely, wonderful old western , reading & writing, & then baking these...how could i resist? how was your monday, monday?

...dear you...

2010-09-24T16:03:00.002-04:00

im getting to know you.

really know you. from afar.

even though i really don't.

you know.

but i do. in a way. a very special way.

i see the sunlight filtering through your farmhouse kitchen.

& i feel its warmth. i see the mountains of plums upon your

countertop & taste their sweetness. i hear the night bugs up in

your blue spruce & sing their song. i read about the little things

that make the whole of you & understand your truth.

i believe in your love of creativity &...of living life.

i believe. in you.

from afar.

in a very special way.

...my time off...

2010-09-19T22:46:00.004-04:00

looked like this...need i say, i enjoyed it!
and how was yours???

Peach Raspberry Pie prep...i nibble when i cook...

Table for one with my farmer's market petite cauliflower

i opted for a feather instead of flowers

Easy, breezy dinner...

and...VOILA, dessert!

...it's the weekend...

2010-09-18T05:11:00.008-04:00

& this is my weekend off, more clearly, i have this weekend off from work. my husband's on a business trip to california & my dear friends are at the shore for a romantic getaway. My single bfriend is working, overtime, and my single gfriend is cleaning up a bit of a mess left in her yard by yesterday's storm/tornado. that means it's just me, Earl Grey & the feline...
that means i...
*can sleep on his side of the bed
*can read (in bed) until 2, pm or am
*i don't have to make dinner
*& i don't have to watch the history channel...
that means i can do...whatever...whenever & almost wherever i want. so let's see...
i'm in the mood to:

*buy fresh greens & flowers @ the farmers market
*peruse the flea market
*stop for a Roasted Beet Salad here
*window shop in SoHo
*pick up a tin of this
*take a peek in here
*have tea & dessert here
*take this home
*bake this
*sip un peu de this
*make a collage or two
*take a picture or two
*finish chapters 7,8,9,&10 of this
*watch this & this
then snuggle & sleep with him for as long as we like...
ahhh, sounds like the makings for a good weekend!
I'll keep you posted!

926...

2010-09-14T22:21:00.009-04:00

926...FRIEND

926.2... "another I" [Zeno], "a second self" [Cicero], "a single soul dwelling in two bodies" [Aristotle], "a person with whom I may be sincere" [Emerson], "a person with whom you dare to be yourself" [Frank Crane], "one who knows your faults, yet loves you in spite of your virtues" [anon.]. *Roget's Intl Thesaurus

9.14.10...FRIEND plus FRIEND equals lots of LOVE & support! What a special day, thank you ladies, i'm honored to call you my friends! XOXO

**raven tile & juice pitcher courtesy of edclay
**The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
**Messenger Poem by Mary Oliver
strawberries, shells, Hawk feather, limes courtesy of mom nature so to speak

...the 9/11 experience...

2010-09-11T00:00:00.035-04:00

it's tough to live in new york city & not think of 9/11 on that day back in 2001.
i was on my way to work just 10 blocks to the north of the Trade Towers. the first plane had already hit. i did not know. it was 8:50am & i rang the bell of the bus to signal my request to get off @ the next stop, 4 blocks away. i moved forward towards the front door. the light turned red & we stopped. at the intersection, 5 Fire Trucks, one right after another, raced past us, 80 miles an hour, nonstop, sirens full bore, screaming. I saw smoke in the clear, blue sky ahead, off in the distance. really black, thick, smoke. i remarked to the driver that it must be quite a fire. he did not reply, he did not even look at me. instead he just stared out the windshield & shifted the bus into park. then came the announcement: all passengers must get off. no explanation. no reason why. just get off, Houston & Broadway Streets was the end of the line...and so i walked downtown, alone. the smoke was still thick. i turned into the corner cafe & ordered my tea. it was then that i asked what the fire was all about. the counter girl looked surprised that i hadn't already heard the news & then told me that a plane had flown into one of the Trade Towers. i gasped, & immediately visualized a small site~seeing plane carrying tourists. i said a prayer. i thanked her & continued on to work. the farther south i walked the more people seemed agitated. running not walking to where they were going. i did not own a cell phone then. i remember thinking i'd like to call my husband. he was at home getting ready to start his day. i saw a vacant payphone on the street & dropped in a quarter. it rang & he answered. he turned on the TV & told me what really happened. 2nd plane had hit. it was terrorism. as we talked the first tower collapsed. my husband told me to get out of there. i said i would walk to work, check in, call him back & head on home. i hung up. as i stared at nothing trying to comprehend what was happening a man, dressed in a business suit, walked towards me. he was covered head to toe in white dust. he looked dazed & confused. he looked right at me. he told me he saw people jumping, people jumping, people jumping. i did not understand him. i wanted to hug him. but he walked on by. then i ran to work. most everyone was there. we decided to wait underground & gathered in the basement stockroom until all of our team was accounted for. there was a desk, stereo & a couple of telephones. it was a bunker so to speak. we felt safe there. i decided to go back up to the street. i needed to see what was happening. people were running, screaming, crying, sitting on curbs, staring up into the sky, praying, praying, praying. screaming, asking, why??????? i walked past a building. i saw beautiful orange curtains swaying in the breeze, fluttering out of the windows in slow motion...then i realized those curtains were flames. orange, jet fuel flames. someone on the street screamed the Pentagon was hit. another screamed the Sears Tower in Chicago was hit. i started to cry & walked back to my workplace. the second Tower collapsed. i turned and saw it falling. down. our building was evacuated. we were told to walk. walk anywhere. walk home. before i left the building i called my husband. he told me that as i walked to stay clear of all landmark buildings: Grand Central Station, Empire State, Chrysler Building, Public Library, & the United Nations in case there were more to come. i remember thinking my route was set up like a booby trap. how could i avoid those areas, i lived in the midst of all of them. and so we walked. all of us. thousands of us. we walked north. and as i aimed for home, city buses sped by filled with people, people covered in that white dust. even the buses were covered in that white dust...no, it was ash...covered in white ash & it trailed off the back like waving banners. but those buses wouldn't stop. they didn't stop for anyone. people waiting at bus stops had no idea they would never be picked up. and as i walked i saw a shoe store open it doors & line the sidewalk with boxes of running shoes. ladies with heels walked barefoot. men carried their briefcases. people tried to call out on their cell phones. but no one could. no service that day. except for land lines. so everyone was quiet. everything around us was quiet. it was very, very quiet. no air traffic above us. no street traffic alongside us. i made it home, safe & sound. so many others did not. the days after were spent glued to the tv. watching it over & over & over again. trying to make sense of it all. but we couldn't. and it burned. burned for days on end. the smell of it burning is something i will never forget. it was surreal. very very surreal. nine years later, the site of it still remains a mystery...

...i took a walk...

2010-09-10T11:15:00.001-04:00

I decided to take a trip downtown yesterday to see what was happening at the site of the World Trade Towers. Tomorrow commemorates the 9th anniversary & I wanted to share with all of you what I saw. Well I discovered this...it was quite unexpected & so lovely & needed to have its own space, its own tribute, it's own post. The Irish Hunger Memorial...take the walk with me...

...pawsing...

2010-09-09T19:21:00.002-04:00

Dear friends,
There seems to be a bit of a delay in my card writing. Well actually, i am writing cards, just not able to send them quite yet. Someone's napping on all of your addresses...and i don't mess with the snoozing PuCat...he might wake up & bite me! So believe me when i say, i wrote the check, the card is signed & ready to go, the stamp is stuck...they WILL post...kitty bites & smudges...soon enough!

...no shadow of doubt...

2010-09-05T18:57:00.006-04:00

a personal journey towards healing:

Every day,
i wake from the darkness of this dream
& the shadow remains

my mind swims in a river of madness,
my body stiffens from the pain,
my eyes flood with such a sadness
and my heart, oh my heart
is so bruised, confused & so drained.

~rows of unkind words i collected like tomes
line the shelves of my soul...
first edition, hardbound in handcrafted selfishness...
they speak volumes of you~

But today,
i wake without a shadow of doubt
no anger. no regrets.
i open my eyes & am drawn to the light
my body rises to the truth & i float effortlessly...
you don't know how to love. me.

and i let it go. you.

i am limber & lithe & can stretch so high
i lift a cloud
i am agile & strong & can reach so wide
i hug the sea
& i am learning not to doubt. myself.

my heart beats fluidly, honestly,
my mind sees clearly
and my soul, oh my soul
feels so free...
i forgive you.

~light is always there, even within the darkness~

i am peace.
i am light.
i am. love.

*nMc*

...Farewell...

2010-09-01T20:23:00.003-04:00

It was the best of times
you spoiled me rotten
i will treasure the memories
i will return
Seattle...i love you!

picture postcard #7...

2010-08-31T21:14:00.001-04:00

...and the day looked like this...need i say more...

picture postcard #6...

2010-08-31T00:08:00.001-04:00

Here's the perfect postcard showing a map of our latest adventure! We just finished our drive up north to Anacortes (first having a blueberry pancake breakfast @ Bob's in Tulalip, made with the sweetest locally grown blueberries i've ever had)...our road trip ends right here @ the marina!
We plan to spend the day on a boat touring the...i'm soooo excited to
tell you...San Juan Islands! YAY!
Our delightful & beautiful friends, Robert & Sandy are taking us out on their boat to Jones Island...where we can picnic, hike, rest & relax, bathe in the sun & maybe even do a bit of whale watching! It's going to be another gorgeous afternoon with loads of sunshine...
Well, i've gotta go 'cuz we're ready to board the boat! This is HEAVEN!
Ahoy & xoxo,
~Nancy

PS: dearest she...navigating the currents of the great lake we share has made me strong...the tides have pulled me west & then they've pulled me east, and, each time, i surrendered fully...& discovered me...& now they pull me northwest...oh bless the challenge & the power in the cycles of life...& the flame in the magic of nature & the beauty in the trust that what is mean't to be...will be...you, too, have the power & the strength to sail the seven seas...why you were born to...xoxo

picture postcard #5...

2010-08-30T07:06:00.015-04:00

Good morning to you!
This is what our breakfast looks like (after we watch the sunrise of course)
each morning as we push our plates, mugs & binoculars aside to open
the maps to chart the course for our day's journey! Doesn't look like
much does it? Trust me, there's just soooo much to do here that it's soooo hard to decide what comes first! Today we're up early because our friends are taking us to someplace very special...
i think you're gonna like it...i'm so excited!
Stay tuned!
XOXO
~NM~

PS: Kerin, i hope you're recovering more & more each day while
i'm away...you're going to be pleased to see where i'm headed to next...
& btw, that highly desired patina i've been waiting for is beginning
to form on the ocean spray of Samudra...ever so lovely! te amo!

picture postcard #4...

2010-08-29T12:00:00.003-04:00

Oh you guys there's just SO much to see in this fabulous seaport city!
One of my absolute favorites is captured on this postcard!
Every night we meet on the porch & sip a brew (or two)
while watching THIS...
the sun setting over Puget Sound...
it's simply, utterly poetic!
and...
then...
we watch the moon drop behind the Olympics...
i could get soooo used to this kinda habit.
i.love.it.here.
i really do.
Hugs for everyone!
~Nancy

PS: Jillian, was that YOU i heard earlier today giggling & hollering
down Bainbridge way...your laughter rippling over the sound of playful,
splashing sea otters & a paddling pup? i thought so! xx

picture postcard #3...

2010-08-28T00:01:00.004-04:00

Howdy!
Today we walked the city, UP & down all the hills & streets...
into shops & out of docks...tasting this & sipping that, BUT
I couldn't wait to get to...yup, you guessed it...Pike Place Market!
Like the postcard says, it's THE place to be! Oh the arts, & oh the
crafts...everyone's selling something! Oh the fresh picked LOCAL
berries, & the fresh caught salmon, & oh, all the fresh cut FLOWERS
everywhere...& everyone's buying something! I could live here
happily...it's my kinda market! Did I mention that we're having so
much FUN yet??? Well gotta go, our order of Halibut Fish~n~chips
just arrived...oh yeah!
Write you all tomorrow!

PS: Kelly Clark, you'll never believe it but, during my morning walk
along the Sound i found a stone in the shape of a dove, @ the water's
edge...i kissed it...& whispered your name...then, as i faced the
Olympics..i snapped my wrist & with lightning speed set it a sail...
it skipped 7 times before an Osprey caught it & took it with the wind...xoxo

picture postcard #2...

2010-08-27T00:35:00.039-04:00

Hi All!
Today we took a drive up north...over the hills to

cross the bridge & through the woods to take the ferry,
to get to the lovely, historic village of Port Townsend!
What a beautiful town!

All the pretty painted lady Victorian homes were to die for...
i could live happily here, quite my style!

This "City of Dreams" is one of only 3 Victorian

seaports on the National Register of Historic Places!

Gotta love that!

Well it's still sunny & hot out, the locals can't

stop talking about the heat but no one's complaining!

Having such a blast...really, truly!

Wish you were here!

XOXO,

PS: Mona, don't forget to SMOOCH the cat boys for me...i miss em!

picture postcard #1...

2010-08-25T18:20:00.004-04:00

Greetings!

I can't believe I'm here!
It's my first visit to Washington State!
What's all this about Seattle having
tons of cloudy, rainy weather?
It's 90 degrees & all sunshine(although
you wouldn't know it from the photo on
the postcard,) I think we brought it with
us from NYC! Went UP the Needle today!
Great bird's eye view of Seattle & all the
hills (which remind me of San Francisco)&
surrounding water...i just LOVE it here!
Hope you are well!

PS: Colby, don't forget to feed the PuCat!
More to come!

...a Little Joy while i'm away...

2010-08-18T09:00:00.001-04:00

Little Joy - Next Time Around

&...they are just the CUTEST!!!

...see you soon...

2010-08-13T07:04:00.002-04:00

be good, be well, & have oodles of fun

while i'm away!

...packing...

2010-08-11T15:31:00.001-04:00

a little vacation is coming up & it's time to pack...
well, as you can see, some things are just too easy for me...

you can find all my favorite artists here, here, here, here, here, & HERE!
go ahead, shop a little Etsy!

...sea tea...

2010-08-09T21:19:00.001-04:00

tabletop beach anyone?

i'm dreaming of a day @ the beach...

...not like any other...

2010-08-05T23:50:00.001-04:00

some days are just so special

they stand out larger than the rest

some are a bit bluer

some are a lot softer

some a little sweeter

& some

are

just

simply

the best

today was not like any other...

~ Thank you Rochelle, your beauty, talent & generosity are inspirational...
my love & appreciation for you & your artwork is undeniable ~

...just the two of us...

2010-08-02T16:33:00.003-04:00

it's early morning the heat is rising
i roll down the shade to break the intensity
the fan is @ full spin
swirling kitchen currents above us
i look into his eyes
such cuteness
& i give in
he's allowed to join me
under the fan
& on the table
for a brief moment
i understand...
we are together, just the two of us,
sharing time, space, heat & quiet...before we become three...

...simple & sweet...

2010-07-29T13:32:00.001-04:00

and a little juicy...how's your day starting?

...one hundred flowers...

2010-07-16T16:54:00.001-04:00

i took 100 flowers with tea today,

i fell right in

i swirled around with all the petals & leaves,

poppies, petunias, snapdragons, sweet peas...

& i

came out smelling like a Calico Rose...

...for the love of friends...

2010-07-13T10:10:00.017-04:00

for chris, ken & bob

when i see you

when i hug you

when i kiss you three

i am reminded of the beauty,

the wholeness & the wealth

that can come with friendship.

true friendship.

it doesn't matter where i've been,

or where i go,

or how long i've been gone,

you always have a place for me.

yours is that special kind that only you can give to,

that only you can share with,
me.

it is deep rooted

outstretches the sky.
it digs deep into

my heart

lifts my soul.

you are strength

you are goodness

you are the sweetest love

you are my home

i love you three.

...my second city...my first home...

2010-07-12T10:49:00.003-04:00