Pacific sun

La Jolla, Calumet Park. A golden sunset captured recently. 

We are lucky to live around such beauty. I call these moments mini sanctuaries. And I am trying to accept more of them in my life. Even with sadness all around, you have to receive joy. It's one of the gifts of being alive, and it's good for you!

Wisteria

 

A reliable source of beauty in our neighborhood, this lovely hedge never disappoints. This one bloom caught me by surprise on a walk. 

May the world find its way back to peace.

Moss

 

After our many days of rain, which are now over for a while, I love seeing the green moss growing in the cracks of the sidewalk.

Filled with thoughts of my friend, wishing her all possible healing and so much time to continue her beautiful life.

Favorites List - October

(c) Heidi Swanson

One of my favorite 'Favorites Lists' is published by Heidi Swanson, an LA-based cookbook author, occasional designer, shop owner and creator of 101 Cookbooks. Here are all her favorites lists; literally months worth of exploring. Years?
Lately I've enjoyed:

Alison Roman's chickpea stew - So, I made it the other night and it is delicious. I did not add the greens, but I covered it with avocado and tons of cilantro. It was even better the next day. One tip: when she says salt and pepper it three times, I forget the stages, do that.  

The Slow Home podcast - This couple has great guests and I love the cadence of their talks. Brooke McAlary and her husband Ben have a really sweet, nurturing and non-interrupting communication style. Just listened to the interview with Joshua Becker, one of the first minimalists I learned about. It was Episode 7; I have started at the beginning of their 3 seasons of podcasts, so working my way through.

This makeup tutorial by Liv Tyler - not only because her voice lulls me to sleep, but because she goes through such an interesting array of serums and potions; French, Korean, clean beauty and otherwise. She clearly has, or makes, the luxury of time. Funnily, she gets her beauty tips from her Dad. 

End of day de-cluttering. A favorite activity lately: I've been ending the workday with a bag-fill of items for donation or throwing out. It could be just 5 small items, but I always find something. I'm going through files and purging paper, collecting things that I know certain people would like, etc. With the end of the remodel in sight, I'm looking forward to doing this even more intentionally. The Courtney Carver workshop is a great motivator. 

And with that, happy weekend all.

It’s finally warming up

How gorgeous is he? I say he, but she could be a she. From this tumblr page.

I happened upon this tumblr page. It’s images, obviously, and then some “notes.” Here’s one that I thought was meaningful. Something we all kind of know, but may not practice enough:

“ One of the saddest realities is most people never know when their lives have reached the summit. Only after it is over and we have some kind of perspective do we realize how good we had it a day, a month, five years ago. The walk together in the December snow, the phone call that changed everything, that lovely evening in the bar by the Aegean. Back then you thought “this is so nice.” Only later did you realize it was the rarest bliss.
— Jonathan Carroll