Time

No matter how hard I try, I can't get a hold of the time... I have really tried. I clear my mornings, I clear my afternoons, but they don't stay cleared. There are an innumerable number of worthy, and even extremely worthy ways to encroach upon the time I am trying to dedicate to creative endeavours. I've read, planned, carved, scheduled, tracked, promised, committed - done all sorts to save the time... but it always withers away. There isn't time to get ready in the morning, eat, tidy, write an email, take a call, let alone the avalanche of 'everything else' that follows. The 'everything else' (wrong word but can't come up with another...things, people, events, appointments, errands, etc.)  that call are important and I want them in my life... I choose them, but I want a little creative time, and I can't get it to consistently happen.

To do it I would have to get militant, as in "Do Not, Under Any Circumstances, Call, Write, Interact, or Ask Me Anything etc.,  Before 1 PM Ever.", or, and maybe this is the key, accept that the only time I really have to myself is late at night, and just schedule that time for myself. The problem is that I am tired often by then, so I looked, (longed) for the morning time... but I'm not an early morning person, so that is the crux. By the time I'm ready - it's 11 AM and the encroaching occurs shortly thereafter... If I could save 11-1 PM that would be 2 hours... it's hard my friends... it's hard.

This is a quote that I like from Kathleen Norris' book called The Cloister Walk, which is quoted in the book Found: A Story of Questions, Grace & Everyday Prayer: Micha Boyett
(previous post):

"Norris describes a monastic perspective that perceives time as a gift to be welcomed, not an enemy to be wrestled."

I wrestle still, I wrestle. I try not to... do things in the spirit if Huggye, yet for this creative time that I crave, I wrestle.

Kindle Makes Me Read Faster

I am beginning to believe that Kindle makes me read faster... maybe it's the swiping, rather than page turning? I suspect it's more to do with the fact that the words are lit up and I can actually see them better - at any rate, though it took a few years to really get used to my Kindle...I am flying through books now.

But if pressed... yes, I love a print 'hold-in-your-hands' book the best.  I am a slave to reading glasses now though, and very good light, and that glowy Kindle is making my reading life easier. What of Audible? Has it a place? Yes it has. I love Audible too, just like Kindle and real books..  it's not so fast... audio books are definitely the slowest way to get through a book (I can't stay tuned in with speeded up narration...1.0 or maybe 1.25 at the most if I don't have to follow too closely...my mind will go its own way) but you can 'read' whilst folding clothes and doing other jobs where you would otherwise not be able to read.  So I listen to books, and read books. I always have a motley pile of books on the go.

Books that are good enough to reread are bolded. Books I highly recommend are asterisked**. Books I enjoyed, and are good enough, are single asterisked*. If a books isn't 'good enough' I generally abandon it, but not always... so they will be listed but not asterisked. A complicated method of evaluating books perhaps... some books I really do like, but I can't really recommend them exactly. I wonder if that makes sense.

Recently finished:

**Daily Rituals  by Mason Curry
**Pray, Write, Grow  by Ed Cyzewski
*Writing Day In, and Day Out  by Cindi Cumbo-Fford
*Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Coming Clean: A Story of Faith by Seth Haines
*The Cozy Life: Rediscover the Joy of the Simple Things Through the Danish Concept of Hygge by Pia Edberg (Kindle)

Still in Progress:

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (Hoopla, audio)
The Broken Way by Anne Voskamp (print)
The 100 Year Old Man That Climbed Out of the Window by Jonas Jonasson (print) (I don't love this one... but it's a book club read so I'm reading on... it's not awful, but for me, it's not my favourite as my Isabelle would say.
The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson (Hoopla, audio)
Found: A story of Questions, Grace, and Everyday Prayer by Micha Boyett

This is a quote that I like from Kathleen Norris' book called The Cloister Walk, which is quoted in the book Found (above):

"Norris describes a monastic perspective that perceives time as a gift to be welcomed, not an enemy to be wrestled.

This fits in nicely with the huggye concept that we (Manochehr and I) have been reading about (The Cozy Life - above). I think this is an insightful way to approach our cold Canadian winters, with a mindset of taking pleasure in simple domestic life by making your surroundings cozy, warm, comfortable, being reflective, enjoying the social season with home-cooked foods, and informal gatherings among people you love and are completely yourself around.  Huggye is a much more concise way to say all that! So you are kind to yourself all winter... and let's make that all year round... but it's a Fall and Winter kind of mindset... that I think would help to ward of the effects of seasonal SAD for some or many. I gave the book a 'good enough' asterisk because it's short and doesn't go into a lot of depth, but I found it to be probably the most thought provoking book of the week... along with Coming Clean, so it kind of deserves ** but I suspect that there are more in-depth books on the subject out there, but perhaps not, it's a simple idea really. Two or not two... I can't decide :)

Something funny... yesterday in the car we were discussing this idea of SAD and Huggye with our Mark and he laughed... "I have the opposite of SAD" when the first snow flies. He's a winter person... and doesn't begin Huggye until the snow begins to melt! What will he do all Summer!

Lastly... to pronounce Huggye..try saying Une in French... then add the H in front.... Hune (still in French) and drop the n.... now add the hard 'g' where the 'n' was, and add the 'ae' in Michael to the end... I learned this on Youtube here:

Books in Progress

I finished The Eyre Affair - not my favourite, but I can see how it would be interesting for someone else. It's a little whimsical, and far-fetched.

Also completed Tribe - a fabulous book - a little along the lines of Malcolm Gladwell's' Blink. I enjoyed this more because of it's theme of community and exposing what we as a western society may be missing in terms of true happiness amidst the conveniences and blessings we enjoy. Tight families probably help to lessen the effects... and, even more so, happy large extended families. An insightful read that I'm glad I came upon.

Still in Progress are:

The Broken Way by Ann Voskamp
The 100 Year Old Man by Jonas Jonasson (paper, book club choice)
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (paper, bookclub choice)
The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson (Hoopla audio)

Books, Books, Books,

It's Jan 5th, 2017 and I haven't posted much lately... ahem, since 2014, and the post before that was in 2010... whaaaat?

 I've been reading a diverse range of books that I would like to track, and I've been going down the rabbit hole of my own interests like Bullet Journaling, and Calligraphy and would like to record some of what I learn breathing new life into this page.

My primary interest has been reading lately, and I'm enjoying the gluttony as a result of my current stage of life where it's possible to read a book a day if I choose. (5 books since Jan 1 completed and a pile in progress). I have always been a multiple book reader... a non-fiction, and a fiction title on audio as well as in print, so usually about four at time, at a minimum. Sometimes more, like now.

My favourite from this week is News of the World by Paulette Giles. This has a 4 star rating on Goodreads... why I don't know; it s a five star book for me. A short book, it reminds me of Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, or All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy, with a touch of Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt. I'm now reading Tribe by Sebastion Junger, which is a fascinating work on what ails western society in terms of our soulful need to be part of a tribe...this is also a quick read, and is an excellent pairing with News of the World. It's apparently a little-known fact that when 'captives' of  Native American tribal societies (there were many of course) were returned to Western society, they invariably wanted to go back to their Indian families. There were hundreds (or thousands?) of cases where white people defected to Indian society, however not a case in reverse. Junger explains phenomenon far better than I can, but a very interesting book to follow, or precede, News of the World.

I also finished, in Jan. 2017, Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes (it's all about the carbs people), and the latest by Liane Moriarty called Truly, Madly, Guilty and Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe (better than expected, though I chose it b/c it's well reviewed.) 

In progress:

The Broken Way by Ann Voskamp (paper)
You'll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein (library) (abandoned)
Tribe by Sebastion Junger (Kindle, book club choice)
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (recommended to me but I'm close to abandoning) (Kindle)
The 100 Year Old Man by Jonas Jonasson (paper, book club choice)
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (paper, bookclub choice)
The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson (Hoopla audio)

Books from recent 2-3 months, to catch up.

Bolded if I loved enough to potentially reread - there are many books I have enjoyed, but would I reread them? That's the litmus test!

* for Recommended

* Unglued; Making Wise Choices Amidst Raw Emotions by Lysa Terkeurst (Hoopla audio)            Deserves it's own blog post - amazing book.
* One in a Million Boy by Monica Wood (library)
* A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (Hoopla audio)
* Before We Visit the Goddess by Chitra Banarjee Divakaruni (Kindle)
* A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (Kindle)
Flash the Homeless Donkey by Rachel Anne Ridge (Kindle)(abandoned but was cute for a while)
* 11/22/63 by Stephen King (Kindle)
* Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (Kindle)
* The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (Kindle)
A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg (Kindle)
* Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (Hoopla audio)
* The Art of Memoir by Mary Carr (Hoopla audio)
The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout (Kindle)
* Still Life by Louise Penny (Library)(Will read more of this series - mystery for sensitive persons).
Throw Out Fifty Things by Gal Blanke (Hoopla audio)
Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier
*Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
*A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
* When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
*Ex Libre by Ann Fadiman

Want to Read:

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wallis
The Liar's Club by Mary Carr
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Several books  were abandoned... not sure if I want to track abandoned books or not?

That catches up my reading.... my further interests lately have included Bullet Journaling, and Calligraphy. In college I used to take an interest in pen and ink drawing and lettering, and so have taken it up again, for fun, and because there is the opportunity to 'pretty up'  Bullet Journal pages if one is inclined. I love the BJ concept for it's complete way of capturing all the fly away thoughts, lists, projects, and schedules that float around in my head all day (and night), so this idea is an exciting development for me. I wish I had thought of it. Here is the video link that I stumbled across that began this journey for me:

Now if you liked what you see here, try googling Bullet Journal, and prepare to have your mind blown... there are so many variations on this theme that it's mind boggling, but the beauty is that you make this journal to suit you... in the detail that you require for you...so it will be a creative outlet or not, but it will have only what you want to detail, track etc. Plus it's fun.

An Interesting Blog

Since this blog is one of the top 25 read blogs in the world, you are probably aware of it already, but I have just recently found it,and am enjoying it immensely. It's called zenhabits and can be found here: http://zenhabits.net/start/

I began at the Start Guide - because Leo Babauta, the owner of the blog, is a prolific poster, there are thousands of posts, so he provides a 'start' page to sort of catch up and/or read what's relevant to you.

I found this blog because I was perusing his book (The Power of Less by Leo Babauta) in Blinkist - an app where you can skim all the high points of popular non fiction books. I like this app very much - as it's given me the opportunity to 'read' many books I never would have gotten to, and I've found a few gems that I  either ordered at the library or have put on a list to purchase so that I might delve in further. I can't comment on Leo Batauta's book yet, because I haven't spent the 15 min. that it will take to 'read' it, but it looks promising! All of the books I've 'read' so far on Blinkist have been illuminating.

Back to the blog; I found the following, which I thought was well said...I might even try tackling one of these/month in lieu of a New Years Resolution this coming Jan. 1. Something like this anyway.

the brief guide

less TV, more reading
less shopping, more outdoors
less clutter, more space
less rush, more slowness
less consuming, more creating
less junk, more real food
less busywork, more impact
less driving, more walking
less noise, more solitude
less focus on the future, more on the present
less work, more play
less worry, more smiles
breathe

POSTED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2010

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Funny Blog About Crying Children...

This is soooo funny - I'm pretty sure there is a place for Ezra on this website!


http://www.reasonsmysoniscrying.com

Pink Carpet

Pretty scene in Jared and Linda's back yard.

Sparkling Shower Doors

This is so funny to come back from one of the busiest times of my life, after a beautiful wedding and while planning a second, to post not about these wondrous events (because I need permission for one thing) to talk about.....a cleaning product - but I'm so ecstatic about having ALL the water spots cleaned off my shower doors that I had to blog about what FINALLY worked. I was actually contemplating having the glass doors replaced, because they were so etched with water deposits. This is the magical 'stuff':

I bought it at Barb's Kitchen on 51st Ave. in Edmonton, (where I also buy delicious chocolate chips that don't taste like any other chocolate chips found in grocery stores) - the tub I bought was $30 and came with the white sponge shown. This stuff worked like magic. It's not hype, it's true. My doors are completely clean and clear.

PS Mano used the stuff to remove rust spots from his running boards - he says it worked perfectly. It's totally non-toxic too, safe for use on any smooth surface. Seriously, a great find.

Look Up

Who doesn't love a love story?

Jane Eaton, Poetess and Illustrator

Jane illustrated a beautiful book of poems -  written when she was 8/9. It took awhile to put it together, but another is in the works already! I loved hearing her words and thoughts, and am so thankful for her love of nature, and how free and creative she is.  I reread and reread with complete enjoyment.

 I couldn't figure out how to 'share' the link properly - I kept getting an error, so I am linking to Sarra's blog where you will find the book. Enjoy!

http://biscuitsthree.blogspot.ca

How do I Love Thee?

Sonnet 43  How Do I Love Thee? 

XLIII 

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height 
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight 
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. 
I love thee to the level of everyday's 
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. 
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; 
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. 
I love thee with the passion put to use 
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. 
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose 
With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath, 
Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose, 
I shall but love thee better after death. 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

Original Art Sources

Looking for original art? Here are some sources to help you find what you are looking for...so far I have been heavily reliant on Etsy, but there other wonderful places to look for original art outside of local galleries...and you can always make your own art of course!

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/10-online-sources-for-original-artwork-175288

Jared

Jared decided to forego the Lorenzo Snow look...I wish I had a photo...if I can find one, I'll add it. This is his beard after a professional shave...a MAJOR improvement I say. I never heard anyone say anything good about his former beard other than Linda, who tolerated it pretty well. I learned that the more I said about it, the more likely it was to stay:) The funniest comment goes to Sorour...who just said and I quote "pakone". Erase.

Merry Christmas to Me

This came in the mail for me today - the most beautiful iPhone case I have ever seen, and it was packaged so prettily that I was loathe to open it. But I did, to find the cutest notes inside! I am in love with my little book case...much like the original I received as a gift from Sarra for my iPhone 4. The funny thing is that I couldn't take a photo with the phone inside...haha.It's beautiful though, trust me.

Tarof

There is a interesting bit on This American Life about Tarof in Iran... the art of "offering what you may not want to give, and refusing what you may really want".

I'm not sure exactly how to put a link here - I found it on the website with Farsi lessons called Chai and Conversation found at www.chaiandconversation.com. Scroll down to Lesson 6. If you look on podcasts, then look for: This American Life #428 Oh, You Shouldn't Have, and the Tarof part is found at 34.30 minutes into the program. :)

They describe Tarof thusly:

"One of the most important traditions in Iranian culture is the tradition of ‘Tarof.’ Tarof can be described as a specific form of Iranian etiquette or politeness, and comes with a very specific set of rules of how to interact with other people. Sometimes it can be extremely frustrating and seem disingenuous, but at other times, it provides a nice framework of how to interact with other people in an extremely polite and respectful way. A good example of tarof is that when you visit someone’s house, they must offer you something to eat or drink. Even if you are extremely thirsty or hungry, you must refuse the offer. They in turn must keep reinstating the offer, and indeed bring you food and drink, even if they are not prepared to give it to you."

Tarof occurs everywhere..even cab drivers will try to make you not pay...they want you to pay, but they tell you that you mustn't pay...it goes back and forth to the point that you may end up paying more whenl you finally do pay.. this is replayed over and over throughout the day at the store, when visitors come, on the street....etc. It's really something to experience. Here in Canada/America, we are faaaar more to the point for sure..Tarof is very time consuming!

Kloocheh

Oh my! This was once a treat that for it to be truly authentic, one had to travel on the craziest road on earth from Tehran, to the Caspian Sea. Now, lo and behold, it can be purchased at the new Persian Bakery found right here in Edmonton, Alberta. It was glorious, and delicious. This particular Kloocheh was brought in, I'm pretty sure, from Vancouver, but I am assured by the non-English speaking baker that he will be making them from scratch in-house within a week or two of opening. Good thing I know Farsi. They had walnut, coconut and one other filling, that escapes me presently, but the taste was divine.

Sorry, I've forgotten the name of the bakery, but it's next to the newly relocated  Sabzy restaurant at 9314-34 Ave. Edmonton.  Sabzy is a great restaurant, that while on Whyte Ave. was too expensive. The food is wonderful, and one can only hope that they will be able to offer lower pricing - b/c let's face it, no matter how good, $50 for two to eat lunch isn't going to happen too often. 

HomeSchool at Grammies - Art and Writing

Here are photos of our first few classes in the new school room (craft room) - we manage to get together once a week, for 2 lessons in both Art and Writing. It's been so fun - the children are excited to learn, a testimony to their mother's remarkable views and dedication to nurturing their love of learning. It's really something to see - they are absolutely unabashedly happy to learn whatever lesson comes up for the day. We have used art pencils, crayons, play dough, and watercolours so far, whilst painting the sky ("Grammie, there are no clouds in the sky - it's just blue!" " Go back out and take all your blue pencil crayons, and see how many blues you see!" was the reply) outside on a blanket, drawing with  music, and another day while listening to a story...all to get the creative juices flowing.

Here we are in our new 'classroom' upstairs - it's a beautiful space to teach and learn in - with plenty of natural light, and inspiration int he form of books and materials.

Writing is our other pursuit; the children do tons of writing already, at home, so we have gone back to the beginning to refine grammar and punctuation. They are so quick to learn - it's hilarious - even poems are gobbled up like candy. They are so quick to memorize - and that includes Scarlet who has her own Grammie School day  - she's equally eager to work hard and learn!

Jane, Charlie, and Jacob memorized The Goops By Gillett Burgess in a few minutes and Scarlet and Jacob learned The Caterpillar by Christina Rosetti equally quickly - we'll move on to more difficult material once we work into it a little...what we're doing now is probably not challenging enough.

Our class motto, for which we have been mocked (haha) is:

"In the circle of creativity, we are free to be we!" We say it together, of course if you were to say it on your own, you would say "I am free to be me!"

Notice Scarlet's grammie bun :)

Last day we had to make a few rules...one of which is that to learn, play, and create the way we want to, we have to all be free to make a few mistakes without them being quickly pointed out by each other...so basically we each have to let each other be, while each person figures out their own mistakes. There was a little too much unsolicited criticism and correcting (which is my job), but I think we have put a stop to it. We'll see next day.

More Scarves...One Good Thing about the end of Summer

More scarves many of which were gifts from friends and family...the 2nd one from the top is a lovely scarf from my mom - a gift for my birthday, the there's the orange fringe scarf from Sorour, and the next one down, pink, from my sweet cousin Brenda. The bottom too are gossamer thin cashmere scarves from Restoration Hardware's after Christmas sale last season - they are the most wonderful endless loop scarves - perfect for my next visit to Iran b/c they are so light and airy...and breathable. I get hot with a scarf on all the time!

I love scarves, even though I'm not technically a 'scarf' person in terms of wearing them in fancy ways, I still like to recall where they came from and they look so nice on the shelf! It's a refrain of mine... "look at all the pretty colours!"  I do wear them too, I promise!

Washed Scarves, Ready for Cooler Weather.

Most of these lovely scarves were gifts from my dear sister-in-law or I purchased them in Tehran or Isfahan. The top one is a bird scarf that Sorour sent home with Manochehr, after my father-in-law passed; I will always keep that one. The next one Sorour gave me also, it was one of her own, and the next one also I think. The others I bought either in Iran or here. Even though I don't have to wear them, I love to collect them; they recall people and places, in addition to keeping me warm.

Disgruntled

I encountered this happy fellow going home, on Baseline Rd.