kick the darkness

you can see in the future of a thousand years

2012-01-31T11:25:00.001-05:00

When I was planning my trip to New York City. I grouped my day's activity in roughly the same neighborhood. My usual pilgrimage to Victoria's Secret, was coupled with my introduction to Dylan's Candy Bar and the Whitney Museum, all on the east side, within ten blocks of each other. I knew I was going to The Cloisters and I found out that Inwood Hill Park was nearby so I decided to pay it a visit.

saturday: the guggenheim

2012-01-30T12:36:00.001-05:00

It was the second to last day of the Maurizio Cattelan's All exhibit at the Guggenheim. Because I am a woman with respect for the value of a dollar. I had planned all my museum visits to coincide with the museum's pay as you wish day or hours. I believe every museum in New York City has such a policy and for the Guggenheim that time is Saturdays from 5:45pm until closing. If you put together the

friday: the MoMA

2012-01-30T12:34:00.005-05:00

I hit the ground running this trip. Having only just arrived a few hours in New York, my sister and I headed to the Museum of Modern Art. I had not been there in twenty plus years; not since I did a sort of New York farewell tour, before I left the country to be with Nails. My sisters have corporate passes, as many corporations are major patrons of the arts, and they have been given this as a

eating through the heart of new york city part two

2012-01-30T09:48:00.001-05:00

The Vagabond Cafe is a cafe that well suited my needs as a writer, and I deliberately sought it out. They have wifi and outlets to plug in your laptops, and couches and soft chairs, away from the tables to make yourself comfortable. I read about it under Great Places in New York City for Writers and knew that you could also get wine and beer. Important. Savory and sweet crepes seem to be their

something that you feel will find its own form

2012-01-27T01:49:00.006-05:00

something that you feel will find its own form - kerouac A few months ago in my internet wanderings, I came across Mast Brothers Chocolate, as part of the Williamsburg Renaissance and artisanal food movement, which I have become much more aware of since I spent a week in the Northern Kingdom of Vermont, last September. I wanted to go to Wiliamsburg and take in the scene. So when I was looking for

my peoples

2012-01-26T14:02:00.000-05:00

as requested

2012-01-26T00:38:00.002-05:00

wordless wednesday: world trade center

2012-01-24T23:46:00.001-05:00

boardwalk empire

2012-01-24T22:08:00.003-05:00

coney island the end of the line nostalgic glass artwork in the coney island subway station 50℉/10℃ the atlantic ocean in januarynot quite as wintery as east berlin fire! the smell of coney island is mythic to me but you need to smell it when all this toxic grub is up and running nathan's famous is my jelly. i go there and orderthe fried clams and even though i always felt like i was risking my

eating through the heart of new york city

2012-01-23T01:32:00.003-05:00

hillstone nyc january 22, 2012 wined and dined almost beyond sensibilityit is restaurant week in new york city! sweet one friday night dinner at CIRCO pumpkin agnolotti spezzatino di cinghialewild boar stew, cream polentathis is where i learned what all the polenta fuss was aboutcirco is a lovely restaurant with exquisite ultra solicitous service this restaurant put a hurting on me

if i love you

2012-01-23T00:00:00.009-05:00

or view from the high line23rd street and tenth avenue from the high lineeven though i grew up in nyc, i never heard of the high line before last year, when i saw this video. i was intrigued, charmed, and determined to see it the next time i was in the city. click to enlarge and read the history of the park dogwood holly treethis is the first time i have ever seen a tree like this some sort of

i am holding you now in my mind uninterrupted

2012-01-21T12:21:00.002-05:00

it's up to you

2012-01-19T15:44:00.000-05:00

the adventure continues

through the very heart of it

2012-01-11T09:47:00.001-05:00

cat powerphoto by stefano giovannini

you lift me up

2012-01-05T11:35:00.001-05:00

happy new year Oh, sweet thing, you’re just like a Sugar Buzz, Doing to me just what sugar does. The heart is full, ever was, High so high like I was on some devil’s drug You lift me up straight to the top Suspended bliss until I drop. Chorus: Can’t get enough, I can live without it, Can’t get enough! Of what this love does to me, To me, sugar buzz You got me wound up tight as, as I could be,

the sky might fall

2011-12-29T12:48:00.001-05:00

22"x28" oil on canvas order prints here: saatchi online gallery

portrait of the artist as a young man

2011-12-27T01:36:00.000-05:00

he accepts drawing challenges from fellow artist i said, i challenge you to draw a self-portrait

water takes you

2011-12-24T20:26:00.003-05:00

reaching the water was respite the sight of it like arrivingat the door of a friendriverall rippledi imaginedevery wave caused by the drops of our wordsbeing absorbedthe hard words and soft onesall leaving the sametemporary markhitting the ripple of thelast word and the wordbefore thatit is a warm start to december every puddle liquidthe grass still green illusions of springthe air gusts hard at

house 2011

2011-12-22T16:02:00.000-05:00

sweet surprising love

2011-12-21T12:19:00.000-05:00

thank you sweet one

always ourselves we find

2011-12-17T23:18:00.002-05:00

in the sea

my gift to you

2011-12-12T12:29:00.001-05:00

and the winner is...me really. Lisa wins "The Strength" this Blogoversary, but it is I that was the recipient of your support and friendship. Thanks to everyone that participated; you had a one in six chance of winning. the strength This was fun, maybe I will have more giveaways next year. I am starting to have paintings leaning up in the hall, so who knows. My love to you all. your artist

weekend work

2011-12-11T19:56:00.001-05:00

princess of china cuban wave tumblr wave (unfinished)how to paint the sky

happy birthday: emily

2011-12-10T12:35:00.000-05:00

I taste a liquor never brewed -- From Tankards scooped in Pearl -- Not all the Vats upon the Rhine Yield such an Alcohol! Inebriate of Air -- am I -- And Debauchee of Dew -- Reeling -- thro endless summer days -- From inns of Molten Blue -- When "Landlords" turn the drunken Bee Out of the Foxglove's door -- When Butterflies -- renounce their "drams" -- I shall but drink the more! Till Seraphs

what it takes

2011-12-09T21:06:00.000-05:00

to paint the sky is this cerulean, quinacridone rose and cadmium fire burning down you pin them (here) against this woven window rubbing your finger into the salmon wash of sky with courage forgetting the flushes of failure that dog memory you pass through believing it is in hand allowing the sun emanation. you paint and believe and are struck ah and breathless when god backlights your

bloom

2011-12-08T11:57:00.000-05:00

the paper kites

good to see you again

2011-12-03T18:57:00.003-05:00

the corona theatre Montréal december 2, 2011 it was a cold but snow-free December night, and I was thankful. On the small lineup outside Montréal's Corona Theatre, people held computer printout tickets in their hands, just like the ones in my bag. These people in front of us, had seen Joseph in Ottawa and talked about getting their card punched as frequent attenders. Serendipitously Joe Beef

a good brush is like a friend...

2011-12-01T13:27:00.003-05:00

when you have the good brush, it's good - manon (my oil painting instructor) the last class ginettemy stationdiane and denisemariacieli have never allowed manon to touch my canvas before today. today i gave her free rein to do what she willed. i cast myself before her experience" teach me to paint the sky"they were a sweet fellowshipyou could own this painting a good brush is like a friend

love should save us from life

2011-11-30T23:50:00.001-05:00

love is the every only god who spoke this earth so glad and big even a thing all small and sad man,may his mighty briefness dig for love beginning means return seas who could sing so deep and strong one queerying wave will whitely yearn from each last shore and home come young so truly perfectly the skies by merciful love whispered were, completes its brightness with your eyes any

red balloons

2011-11-25T09:18:00.009-05:00

it has been a long time since i have posted a post by a guest contributor. Too long. i check out **Sparklyliving** because Karen, the blogger there, is not only the sister of one of my closest friends, but she is just down right fun, uplifting and inspirational. After being on hiatus for awhile, i was glad to find recent postings and this wonderful video. i liked it so much, i asked her if i

wordless wednesday: study in completion

2011-11-16T08:36:00.001-05:00

i have hoped

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

...as many hopes and dreamed so many dreams, seen them swept aside by weather, and blown away by men, washed away in my own mistakes, that — I used to wonder if it wouldn’t be better just to haul off and quit hoping. Just protect my own inner brain, my own mind and heart, by drawing it up into a hard knot, and not having any more hopes or dreams at all. Pull in my feelings, and call back all of

neko case

2011-11-13T18:35:00.000-05:00

pie

2011-11-13T15:42:00.001-05:00

i had been itching to do this for several daysIf i ever write a book on baking i am going to call it the Sensual Baker. So much about baking is about feel and knowing and not recipe exactitude. Baking well relies heavily on chemistry and i do not sniff at the bakers that are chemist in their practice but i insist that chemistry will not help you in the arena of bread, pie crust and flavour. I

eleven

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000-05:00

you know in november that corn stalks are very beautiful that they put roots down straight and deep and you uproot them now with effort. they are beige and done after exertion green and reaching for sun and seed. you hold the spent corpses as precious as things that still have significance s. roberts © 2011

blogoversary two

2011-11-04T07:11:00.006-04:00

Last month I had only ten postings, the fewest postings I have ever had in a single month, in the history of this blog. According to the Google Blogger statistics, October saw my greatest amount of visitors yet. I am glad viewership is growing. This December, it will be two years that I have been editing this web journal.It started as a place to post sketches and a little poetry from my friends

i could love them

2011-11-03T12:21:00.001-04:00

the fellowship Celine (not her real name) is one of my favourites because she painted a Fender Stratocaster guitar for her grandson. She started this by painting her canvas black. I love how this is coming out, and her ambition. i could love these peoplemy table buddy "Yvonne". She paints sweet pictures.Flowers and kittens. i have a great affection for her frustrated swearing en français We all

feeling good

2011-11-02T22:15:00.000-04:00

wordless wednesday: princess of china

2011-11-02T18:09:00.001-04:00

one

2011-11-01T12:59:00.001-04:00

good-bye october

2011-11-01T07:35:00.000-04:00

hard with occasional flushes of softnesswhat a monthi am glad to see the tail of it

tales of a drowning woman: now you are just trying to spoil me

2011-10-28T13:45:00.000-04:00

(((thanks dee)))

we stand as one - joseph arthur

2011-10-28T09:00:00.002-04:00

this song makes me proud to be a fan of Joseph Arthur. Regular followers of the blog will know that i've met Joseph, and seen him perform, in as many times. He has the generous and tender soul of an artist and is a musical inspiration, and mentor for me. He gives me courage. i listened to this song and watched the video this morning and it gave me chills. It is sheer loveliness and compassion.

tales of a drowning woman: back in the saddle

2011-10-26T19:29:00.002-04:00

third class second class first class

tales of a drowning woman: slow and fire

2011-10-21T15:35:00.008-04:00

It was grey. I woke up for the sunrise because it had already risen in me. I leaned my cheek against the back of the padded chair and watched the darkness melt away grey into gold. Slow and fire. The burgeoning morning glittered all over with the sheen of the night rain. It was too late to ask October to be kind - not after spending every inch of it sick and choking. But the beauty of the

tales of a drowning woman: champagne

2011-10-19T20:26:00.001-04:00

the body makes humble music the heart its tender metronome amid the purr of breathing. i am coming up for air inside this bone cage sings a delicate duet, bubbles giggle like champagne with the whisper and whistle of songbirds sleeping. s. roberts © 2011

tales of a drowning woman: lifeline

2011-10-19T08:53:00.000-04:00

tales of a drowning woman: sweetness

2011-10-18T11:04:00.003-04:00

being deeply loved gives you strength... - lao tzu

happy birthday: ee

2011-10-14T09:15:00.000-04:00

You are tired, (I think) Of the always puzzle of living and doing; And so am I. Come with me, then, And we’ll leave it far and far away— (Only you and I, understand!) You have played, (I think) And broke the toys you were fondest of, And are a little tired now; Tired of things that break, and— Just tired. So am I. But I come with a dream in my eyes

jobs

2011-10-09T18:51:00.002-04:00

wordless wednesday: the end of the harvest

2011-10-06T05:06:00.001-04:00

no words for the happiness

2011-09-30T14:53:00.003-04:00

the journey march 21, 2011 the inspiration april 17, 2011 april 24, 2011 pure sensual pleasure here april 30, 2011 ugh, heartbroken june 2011 september 22, 2011 strength septermber 30, 2011 faith

wordless wednesday: week two

2011-09-28T17:40:00.000-04:00

strength

2011-09-26T14:30:00.009-04:00

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage -Lao Tzu week one i am taking an oil painting class, and that is what gave me courage to go back to the body. I am the youngest person in the class by much. Somehow, i am living the life of a retired person, which i think is cool. i am doing now, what some people wait to do when they have maybe

i was going to call this post

2011-09-26T14:02:00.004-04:00

courage, now i do not know what to call it. i looked at the painting after i was done today, and i was gratified. What i had envisioned in the painting at the start, was back again. It was what i wanted. It was the trail i had started on before i made my wrong turn. When i looked at it, now corrected, i could see what it had once been and the scars of what it became. i had painted into it, its

la fin de semaine

2011-09-25T20:24:00.002-04:00

ricky's

2011-09-25T19:40:00.000-04:00

the menz nails doing his thing ricky horsehair il nostro eroe

i am not waiting for a prince

2011-09-25T18:26:00.002-04:00

gaultier part two: the details le bon dieu est dans le detail I just had a glance at this gown my first visit to The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, John Paul Gaultier exhibit. This visit i paid extra attention to the details of these amazing creations. Enjoy. "I am not waiting for a prince. I am because I speak. I am what I am. I am not waiting for anyone. I love to be beautiful for myself." -

coconut shrimp

2011-09-25T09:24:00.002-04:00

served with bonterra's viognier from california INGREDIENTS (Serves 2-3) 4 small Yukon gold potatoes, quartered 100g mushrooms, quartered ½ red bell pepper, chopped ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp black pepper 2 cups cooked corn kernels (I used oven roasted) 150g raw shrimps ½ tsp sriracha (or other hot sauce) ½ cup coconut milk ½ cup water the juice of half a lemon 2 tbsp fresh coconut, grated 2 tbsp fresh

baby you could fix me up

2011-09-22T14:44:00.000-04:00

dan mangan <-click

wordless wednesday: look mama it's so beautiful

2011-09-21T09:10:00.000-04:00

i was made for loving you baby

2011-09-19T12:39:00.012-04:00

you should play this as you scroll down Last Friday one of the young people around here, had the day off from school. And what did she do with her precious time off? Did she go to the mall with her friends? Sit in her room watching TV? No she got on the bus and headed downtown to see the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts exhibit of John Paul Gaultier, which she had already seen the previous Sunday,

wordless wednesday: caspian lake

2011-09-14T18:39:00.000-04:00

to the melons

2011-09-12T19:21:00.005-04:00

i was determined to grow melons this year. To baby that vine to the maximum of my ability and reap the rewards there of. Well i did it! and i am pleased. My garden has been productive this summer, as never before. I had a certifiable case of spring fever this year, and it worked itself out in a passion of tending my little bit o' land. This spring saw a diligent frenzy of weeding, feeding, and

craftsbury you can get anything that you want

2011-09-12T18:47:00.005-04:00

each and every morning was a varying theme on bliss. The bliss of the day that starts overcast then turns warm and sunny. The bliss of the day we spent mostly at the cottage by the still lake, with only loons and mergansers for company. The bliss of our quiet routine of coffee, Willy’s, the library, reading and writing and then a swim and shared supper. The Sister-In-Law and I, were like an

the northeast kingdom

2011-09-09T16:36:00.006-04:00

of Vermont, is the regal handle, this little section of paradise is called, wherein my beloved Treasure and i sequestered ourselves for a vacation of reading, swimming (me not she), sunbathing (she not me), writing and eating lots o' good cheese, wine, and fresh tomato sammiches. st. johnsbury This is near the Passumpsic Bank, where we found out, to the dismay of my sweet sister-in-law, that

pretty flamingos

2011-09-08T17:21:00.001-04:00

today's painting watercolour is the most difficult paint medium to me, and probably my least favourite, but it has the advantage of being self contained. All you need is your container of paints, a brush, paper and water. You can do it anywhere. You can carry the entire kit and kaboddle with you on vacation. And you can whip up a painting in a few hours or less, if the muse strikes you, as it

wordless wednesday: homegrown

2011-09-07T12:03:00.001-04:00

greensboro the berries

2011-09-07T10:49:00.001-04:00

all throughout the property there were small blackberries not a fabulous picture of **My Treasure** but the family agrees she could be her mother, from this angle, so it is good. you are also bereft in this picture of the exuberance with which she received nature's bounty. she has maintained the childlike wonder of youthnow if you imagine ten times this amount, of sweet fat fruit, you will have

greensboro day one

2011-09-06T16:51:00.001-04:00

home for the last week and some the beforemergansermy days at the officei am poetically stymied by this imageit has defied my attempts at descriptionthe way down and twice i went down by nightthis was more Harriet's haven than minei like to write down by the waterafter (that's cranberry juice unsweetened to boot)i lost that small blue calender book at some point, never figured out where and i had

athenaeum

2011-09-05T11:14:00.000-04:00

day tripSt. Johnsbury Athenaeumoh the places you will see, when you hang out with a skilled and enthusiastic librarian horace fairbanks the founder of the library and gallerythe gallery was closed when we were there neko case had signed the guest book, and i did also

writer's retreat

2011-09-05T10:10:00.005-04:00

wordless wednesday: jewelweed

2011-08-31T10:35:00.001-04:00

hurricane peace

2011-08-28T12:34:00.000-04:00

florence and the machinemusic to enjoy with your hurricane What the Water Gave Me Time it took us To where the water was That’s what the water gave me And time goes quicker Between the two of us Oh, my love, don’t forsake me Take what the water gave me Lay me down Let the only sound Be the overflow Pockets full of stones Lay me down Let the only sound Be the overflow And oh poor Atlas The

this much delight fills columns to new heights

2011-08-26T11:44:00.000-04:00

the joy formidable

your dream inside my dream

2011-08-23T09:48:00.004-04:00

A month ago i gave you the heads up about Nails's 46th birthday, which we celebrated this past week. i asked you to help me wow him.And boy did you guys ever come through! We got 50 cards and gifts from as close as across the street, to as far away as Chesire England. The cousin of our midwife, who is Scottish seemingly told all of her relatives across the pond, and their postcards actually got

summer love

2011-08-22T20:58:00.003-04:00

i had a moment. i was seized by a passion that morning, to go absolutely crazy making nails's birthday cake, and i did. i lay in bed that morning, imagining, "What would be the most tasty and most amazing cake to attempt?" I wanted something where i could really test my skills as a baker. i wanted to create a cake that embodied love. And THIS is what i imagined:Summer LovE Two layers of golden

tonight the dj's got us

2011-08-22T13:34:00.001-04:00

to really enjoy this post you should play this as you scroll down. nails asked, "Do i look like Ben Affleck in that photo?"he wanted a do overthe guests were cleverly arranged at their tables by movie names(who got seated at Dumb and Dumber?!!)a good movie and a GREAT table. amirite my peoples?more boyfriend girlfriend picsthe princess and our man johnnyand the rest of the Usual Suspectsthe

like to like

2011-08-22T08:35:00.003-04:00

wordless wednesday: water colored

2011-08-17T10:36:00.001-04:00

foo

2011-08-17T08:40:00.000-04:00

forty six

2011-08-16T20:29:00.000-04:00

happy birthday!!!!!!!thanks for all the cards and letters!

...do it with longer hoses

2011-08-15T09:36:00.000-04:00

firemen's day 2011 runpolice boatand that's all folks the firetrucks parade did not seem as long as it was in times past

double double

2011-08-14T09:29:00.006-04:00

toil and trouble. Friday night we went to Senneville Park with two of our closest friends to take in Repercussion Theatre's production of Macbeth for Shakespeare in the Park. We hadn't gone in a long time, and we weren't sure how the little kids would do. It was a great night and a very good production, and the children hung in there. the three witches sporting their fabulicious Aldo shoesseated

saint rue paul

2011-08-13T21:57:00.002-04:00

i owed Montréal. I really did, after several visits on the dreariest days of the year, the old city was looking pretty raggedy on these pages. Rememeber this? Ugh so dreary! I owed the old girl a summer visit, and last week i did it.So starts our Here Comes the Sun Tour: Old Montréal.Montréal may no longer be the pearl of Canada. But it is still a pretty city.our heroyou can see the dome of bon

pull-apart bread

2011-08-12T09:53:00.002-04:00

The recipe for this is here at Joy the Baker. My recipe will disappoint you, if you are an exacting cook. If you are familiar with my bread baking, then you know that i do not measure, and instead judge the rightness of bread by the feel of its texture and warmth. I also forget to add eggs which would have given the bread a more pastry like texture. It was still excellent without the eggs. See

cucumber vines

2011-08-12T09:14:00.001-04:00

When i see a picture of her like this, with the face of her uncompromising grandmother, holding her arms in such an unsure position, i remember that she is so young even though she is the most fiercely sure person that i know i asked her mother as we walked back from the river, did you ever imagine all those years ago, when i came to see you in, new jersey, that one day we would be walking home

candy store

2011-08-11T11:50:00.002-04:00

five minutes after they arrive the first time in a small foreign town the first time out of their country we let them walk the four long blocks to the corner store for candy led by the ten year old who added her own money to the tillshe who will surprise no oneif one day she is the first black woman prime minister it’s the children’s crusade all over again on the deck the prison guards

wordless wednesday: olmstead

2011-08-10T09:01:00.000-04:00

i heard there was a secret chord

2011-08-08T12:00:00.003-04:00

that david played and it pleased the lord but you don't really care for music, do you well it goes like this the fourth, the fifth the minor fall and the major lift the baffled king composing hallelujah hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah well your faith was strong but you needed proof you saw her bathing on the roof her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you she tied you to

butterflies zebras moonbeams fairytales

2011-08-07T11:46:00.003-04:00

james green nails thinks he's johnny cashcashthe mikesthe Here Comes the Sunshine Tour lands at pete'sjames green and the blues electric

who

2011-08-06T11:56:00.002-04:00

is the dearest ?

the boat biz

2011-08-04T15:48:00.037-04:00

my hero The taxi driver that pulled into the driveway, pointed to it and asked, "Est-ce veritable?"Is it real? And i answered, that it was. i had just been in it, on the river yesterday.Yesterday. I decided not to bring my camera. i do not know why but the minute i watched Nails send the boat running down the cement ramp into the Outaouais River i realized my mistake. There are no words to

wordless wednesday: beef loin with carmalized onions

2011-08-03T23:31:00.001-04:00

wordless wednesday: division

2011-07-27T14:44:00.000-04:00

respect for last night's dream

2011-07-26T11:21:00.001-04:00

your visions have saved my life a hundred times

happy birthday

2011-07-21T17:12:00.001-04:00

those of us who think we know

2011-07-20T08:31:00.000-04:00

Those of us who think we know the same secrets are silent together most of the time, for us there is eloquence in desire, and for a while when in love and exhaustedit’s enough to nod like shy horses and come together in a quiet ceremony of tongues it’s in disappointment we look for words to convince us the spaces between stars are nothing to worry about, it’s when those secrets burst

one life

2011-07-12T02:31:00.003-04:00

i looooooooooooove that adam clayton has allowed his hair to go white! i just love it!(bono baby, i am talking to you!)fendermysterious ways graphicsthe "claw" in one of it's many stages of magnificence you can see how much they love each other even in a stadium of 80,000 people, it is humbling oh, and there is that pretty rickenbacker guitar i confess get on your boots is my least favorite u2

love is a temple

2011-07-10T22:43:00.003-04:00

interpolreally good live band(listen here) beer in the stands! delivered right to you, all concert long. no "wine garden" nonsense in montréal paul banksthey call this the spaceship, you can't see but there are actually people hoisted up in the legs, operating the camerastheir bass player plays his bass practically at his knees, which tickled us, as Nails plays his bass à la paul mccartney with