unpublished

avedon at booktryst

My sister and I have amazing parents.

Our dad sent this to us several days ago:

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what

you have not; but remember that what you

now have was once among the things only

hoped for." Epicurus

that said: joy

Although I don't spend too much time talking about this online, anyone who knows me knows that my family is my life. When I saw that Emily Dickinson had written "Home -- is the definition of God" it resonated beyond any explanation I could supply here.

That said (and it says it all for me), home is of utmost importance. As much joy as it brings to find things -- a chair, a house, a painting, a photograph, the work of an artist who sees things in such a way that it brings immeasurable happiness and beauty into other's lives -- the greatest joy I find is always, ever, looking into the faces (or just being near) those I love. Second to that is the joy of being near things (or finding things) that remind me of treasured times. And all of the (treasured times) things are humble. And will remain humble. In the long haul, that's what matters. I find that looking into those faces, reading the best words, spending time with those we love, being surrounded by humble things that bring joy, and perhaps -- if I am lucky -- being able to create some of that joy for someone else: that is the measure of life, it is home. And home, as Emily noted, is where we really need to be.

(This blog was started, as mentioned before, as a lark; an exercise in learning how to work blogger so that i could post about children's books. It took on a little life of it's own, and somehow changed mine. Only now mentioning all this because I suppose I will try to include more family...if they don't mind. For me, they are true home. And that definition.)

Here's hoping you have a magnificent weekend.

royal quiet deluxe

erica: a thing finder of the highest order

just a blur

these snapshots were taken two summers ago;

the only reason i kept both is that (i still feel)

simply looking at them the sense of (flat out)

awe which swept over me when i was standing

in the presence of Sargent's incomparable work.

[the room at the met was empty for a few minutes,

and i stared in stunned silence at the majesty (it

could only be described that way) all around.] so

it is with great delight that i send you to little augury,

where the v. masterful pgt is waxing eloquent about

Sargent. you'll learn much more from her, and see

why there is space for nothing but quiet and pure

amazement when you are stock still next to him.

le divan fumior bohemien

same time last year

did a quick zip 'round a different set of highways

there and back again

two day trip.

drove down the five, and back home on 101.

saw five colleges. quickly witnessed a bit of

football (very well played) on skateboards.

let it be noted that the last week of school

makes a university campus (especially one

on the beach) look awfully good. bikes lined

up in candy-colored columns. kids in swim-

suits sauntering toward the water. nary a

book in sight. happy faces all around. just

sayin'--one of those moments when living

in our sunny state seems like the best of all

possible worlds--but before you get all starry

eyed about being in the best of all possible

worlds, make sure you've gassed the car up

as you leave Santa Barbara and head north

on 101. it's a long, dry drive 'til you get thru

the Gaviota tunnel & cruise into Buellton

(location of the next gas station you'll see).

don't ask me how i know.

all in all, it was a simply magnificent and

unexpectedly memorable trip. love this

sweet state of ours. it's good to remember how

remarkable (& astonishingly beautiful) it is.

set

i love what's happening at birch

(and i love hamish's shirt)

brownKnows

galerie half

please

galerie half

or here

galerie half

(via atelier)

given my druthers

no time to sit these days,

but if there was it would be

nice to find myself sitting here

(via exquisite atelier)