fennel and the blue sky

Fennel is one of my favorite vegetables and spices. I never really got to be around to see the maturing of the vegetable, but all I had to do was walk by these carcasses of the green fronds that hold the spice in their tiny pods now, and I could smell that sweet anise smell. I really miss the garden this time of year.

looking forward

She is so beautiful. I am lucky I get to be her aunt. Spending time with her is always so wonderful and I always learn so much. I know I'm not ready yet, but I am looking forward to having a child of my own someday. I can only imagine how much I will love that child, knowing how much I love my niece.

the death of the day

Basil seeds against the winter sunset. Despite the death of all things green, the earth this time of year has a lot of beauty if you look for it.

the beauty of fall

I got to spend a few beautiful days at home in Iowa over the Thanksgiving holiday. I miss this place so much when I'm away; it is amazing how much the earth gets into my blood. I couldn't resist grabbing my camera in the late afternoon just before the sun went down to snap a few shots of the cornstalks. More to come from this lovely photoshoot in the next couple of weeks.

Fata Morgana

I have to say, I was a little skeptical about this opera when I first heard IU was doing it. I watched a production from the Netherlands and I definitely didn't like it much. But after starting to work with Nic Muni, who is a genius, I really started to get the opera, and then I started getting excited that I get to be a part of it. It is so much fun, and full of color and craziness, and both casts are just so wonderful. Last night I watched the first dress rehearsal and really enjoyed myself. More to come.

stuck in another place

It is has gotten cold and dreary here again, and so I'm at it again taking photos of the only green things in my life. After I mist my houseplants, they just look so beautiful, I can hardly resist grabbing the camera.

if you're happy and you know it...

...clap your hands! I miss my whole family. I especially miss this little bundle of joy.

bountiful

Recently, I found a lot of beautiful sheaves of wheat at the craft store in the natural fibers section. I have always been somewhat attracted to wheat as a symbol of the harvest, and I decided I want to include it in places in my home to remind me of how lucky I am to be blessed with prosperity and bounty in my life.

growing & changing

I worked in my art journal for awhile last night. I have had this journal since early January of this year, and I've only done about fifteen pages, but I love all the different colors on pages and the way that the pages are all different and imperfect. They really allow me to express my creativity without worrying about the result.

moving forwards

The past few days have been divine, full of friendship, music, and art. Oh...and 70+ degree weather. What more could a girl ask for?

jack

I miss trick-or-treating.

tranquility

Few things are more pleasing to me than the garden. I often get kind of depressed once winter sets in and I am kissing the days of summer and green goodbye. Our first hard frost was last night...but rather than dwell on it, I look at the bench in my bedroom that is full of beautiful houseplants and herbs and feel that tranquility seeping into me again.

caritas

Charity rising
from the depths
above the stars
abounds in all worlds,
unbounded love,
and with spousal kiss
disarms the sky-king.

Hildegard von Bingen

simplicity and madness

I crossed some things off of my to-do list today, with a quiet morning. I rested and only worked and did opera today. I am still feeling worn out. Once I make it through tomorrow, I think the rest of the week should be pretty easy.

all that one needs

"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that wordly cares may not oblierate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."

-Goethe

around the house

I have had a nasty migraine today, ever since I got up. It started last night, and after two doses of excedrin (one early this morning and one a little bit ago) it finally feels like it is starting to go away. I passed the time with my pounding head lying down (it seemed almost worse then) trying to read (no good), and finally, I just decided to get up and move around. So I cleaned the whole apartment. It wasn't always pleasant with the pounding...but I think that it eventually helped to keep my mind off of it. I obviously need to de-stress! I think that is where my migraine came from. With the pounding subsiding, I think life is looking up already.

curling up

The past few days have been unseasonably warm, and today, the air has its fall crispness back. I am exhausted, and looking forward to a day off (hopefully) on Saturday.

splitting the sky

Its shaping up to be another beautiful fall day here in Indiana.

shadows and light

I love it when the trees are on fire. No shedding of life is so beautiful as the one found here.

really?

I spend hours thinking about this vowel chart. This is the life of a classical singer.

a beautiful day

I really enjoyed the Indian summer today. It was in the 80s! Luckily I grabbed my camera before I headed out the door to practice and I captured some of this autumn day's magic.

As the green of the world begins to fade away, I long for home even more. I remember the cool summer evening when I went outside to lay flat on my stomach to catch a shot of the lovely sunset. I haven't had much free time lately to snap photographs, but I'm longing for my camera.

missing perfection

Lately, I'm craving stillness. This little bundle of joy is far from stillness, but I feel like my life would be more peaceful with her in it everyday.

evening walk

I contemplated life tonight while I walked around Knightridge. I'm in one of those in-between places right now. I feel a change coming on.

memories of summer mornings

It feels way too early to be missing the flowers and the summer and gardening. That yearning doesn't usually happen for me until much later...sometime in late February or March. I am missing them now. I am missing walks with Mom & Dad in the morning followed by time spent among the flowers.

my favorite season

When my family was here, Mom and I took a little stroll on Sunday around my home, and a beautiful maple was beginning to drop its fiery leaves. We gathered some up and now they are hanging in my window and on my front porch. I snapped some shots of the lovely things while they were in a pile. Oh, autumn, what you do to my heart...

falling on my head

This weekend was so wonderful because I got to spend it with family...and that includes Ayron. It was very, very sad saying goodbye to them. I wish it could have lasted forever. Just after they left, the rain started pouring outside. I snapped this shot of the big drops falling on my patio.

missing the country

I may be training to sing opera, but I think I was born to live life in the country. I am really missing the garden and the peace and quiet. Today, I was looking at one of my favorite photoblogs, and I swore I could smell the country air while I was browsing through the archives. It motivated me to go back through some of the photographs I took late this summer while I was still in Iowa, and I came across some chickens. Good thing my parents & Ayron are coming into town tonight to give me a taste of home.

welcome home

This was the first week of fall...last weekend, I spruced up the townhouse by putting up the fall decorations (pumpkins, pumpkins, fall flowers, pumpkins, gourds, pumpkins, and a beautiful wreath. Today, while I was getting groceries, I just couldn't leave these little gems at the store. They look lovely lined up on the little fence around our front porch.

living here

I live here now. In front of the piano, in the practice room. It's pretty sweet.

little bit of green

It is good that there was room for me to bring my plants. It is a wonder what a bit of green can do for my mood. This is a lavender that is at home on my patio. I hope it blooms before the season ends.

supper

I was starving tonight when I got home. I had lots of fresh ingredients, and I'm making great use of the fresh herbs I planted in pots and brought with me to Bloomington. I don't know what I call this...penne with a chunky tomato, onion, and garlic sauce (I like winging homemade sauces). Oh my GOD it was good.

the sun is out

On Thursday I set out and arrived in Bloomington on Friday. It was a hard few days, settling in and saying goodbye to my parents and my home. But now I'm here, and the sun seems to be coming out again. I picked up these little ceramic sun/moon figurines in a small Venice mask shop. They are small enough to slip inside a pocket, and I think they're meant to be painted. I like them looking simple and white on my windowsill.

saying goodbye

I'm really going to miss this place...there is just nothing like living out of town, surrounded by sky and green things. Of the green things, I think maybe I'll miss my flowers most.

fresh

One word: Yum.

resting easy

Taken on one of my last morning walks to the farm in awhile. I snapped photos of the chickens, kittens, and other farm stuff. I like this shot: talk about finding beauty in unlikely places.

new inspiration

I got a new pair of running shoes. In the fall of 2005, when I was diagnosed with PET, I was running every night for a couple of miles. I like running--especially the exhilarating rush of adrenaline when you finish. It was a time to be numb. I bought a new pair of running shoes back then, three years ago, and I loved them. Needless to say, they're worn out, and I am no longer running. I wish I was a runner still, but the doctors told me it worsened my condition and that my symptoms would always be much worse with intense exercise. I've jogged a few times since then, but mostly, I'm a power-walker. I like the lightness of running shoes, though...and so here's to a new pair. I've been on the pavement with them a few times, the elliptical once. Funny how a new pair of shoes inspires you.

peaceful, easy feeling

The effect that nature and all things green has on me is irreplaceable in my life. At a time when I need peace, all I need to do is take a moment and meditate on the miracle that is in a plant.

drops of water

The cabbage is getting eaten! That sucks. But it still looks pretty, especially when it is covered in dew.

today's favorite arrangement

When I was a kid, I hated Marigolds. They didn't smell good, I didn't find them that pretty, and because they were one of my Dad's favorites, I could not like them. You know how it is, being a kid. You have to forge your own way. Well, Marigolds have become one of my favorites for flower arranging, and just in general. I think they're so pretty and so cheerful. I love how their blooms come together to make tight little domes of sunshine. If only they grew taller!

broken kettle grasslands

About one week ago, I was traipsing around in ditches in my pretty paisley skirt, just to get some nice shots of the beautiful Broken Kettle Grasslands. My hiatus has been due to having to pack my life up and move it. I'm back...at least for awhile. :)

hayasi tea set

When I was a kid, I definitely didn't appreciate all of the beautiful tea sets that my parents have. They all include cups and saucers, one or two teapots...and lunch plates. Several of them are from German relatives and are tea sets that aren't available in the US. This one was a wedding gift to my parents from my Dad's godparents. It is from Japan, where they used to live. It is the finest, lightest, most delicate china I've ever held. Plus it is hand painted. I'm starting to appreciate them all now!

showers of light

Happy 4th! I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful holiday.

my favorite new perennial

I got the seeds for this Penstemmon on sale for seventy-nine cents online last year, and I planted them last summer. They never came up, but they are here in full force this year. What a wonderful surprise! They make a really elegant cut flower...

in shallow evening

I love this world of green and white, especially when it is shot through with sunlight.

polka dots

This afternoon was all about blue eyes and playing with toys.

goldilocks and the three beans

I'm afraid of my life being all lined up in a row, and at the same time, I want it too.

purple summer

I wish the green and the colors of the flowers and the blue skies with their ice-cream clouds would last forever. I wish I could freeze these days of being wrapped up in nature, quiet, and the presence of those I love so I could stay in them forever. I am so happy.

my niece isn't the only one

...with blue eyes. While I was baking cookies today, Mom and Dad came in, and Mom had this little sweetie in her arms. She's a wild kitty from the hay loft in our barn. I've been dying to catch one of the kittens in the litter, but I haven't come close. I cradled her close for awhile and wished I could go back to childhood where I'd spend hours playing with my kitties.