The Peacock Cries at Dusk

The last few months have been a blur. The move - pack, move, unpack, re-arrange, find space, unpack, create new. Several work trips. Getting accustomed to a new life (avec kidlets at intermittent intervals). Additional cats. Missing La Gram Russe. Spring. Getting used to a new space. Creating a new garden. 

I spent a little time reading. The Danger Box - an unexpectedly good read with rich details for a 10 year old reader. (Yes, I read it at the request of a certain 10 year old to allow us to discuss it.) The setting is "local", Three Oaks Michigan and has echoes of real-life Michigan. (The author doesn't know when blueberries actually ripen in Michigan, but that's the book's only flaw.) Finished My Kind of Place. Finished a book (the Decision to Join) for a board I'm on.

The lilacs bloomed. And I missed La Gram Russe. She knew my love of lilacs, and even when I lived where I did not have any, she made sure I had some fresh blooms for a vase. Where I am now, I have plenty of lilacs and I brought blooms in the house and  thought of her.

Unpacking was initially easy. Unfurl. Bookcases in place. Books put away. Clothes hung. Dressers in place. But making space for everything else means moving other people's things and creating a new shared space. It's a balance. The old. The new. Changes.

In this new space, every night at dusk a peacock cries. It's rural here. There are farms in abundance. The field behind us is family land and will be soybeans, I hear. The house next to us has a vineyard behind.The peacock belongs to a neighbor several farms away. A touch of the exotic in America's fruit basket - a bit like me.

Take - away: Wherever you go, you bring you. Make sure you like who you bring.

Photos by moi! (As usual, and you can tell.)


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Other posts from me you might enjoy:
- The Herd
- Message in a Bottle
- Bleeding Hearts and Time
- Lilacs and other Fairytales

Three Lipsticks

On her dressertop, La Gram Russe had a filigreed golden holder for 3 lipsticks. The usual combo was a flattering pink for every day, a brown-pink alternative, and a reddish shade for special. I have a similar holder on my bathroom counter but it's a little more stuffed.

- Cabernet (Juice Beauty)
- Game Day (Pur Minerals)
- Toxic Cherry (Buxom)
- Cherry (Burts's Bees)
- Wild (Tarte)
- Glamour (Ulta)
- Daredevil (Pur Minerals)
- Crushed Coral (Kismet)
- Rhubarb (Burt's Bees)
- Wildflower (Kismet)
- Stardust (Lancome)
- Hawaiian Smolder (Burt's Bees)
- Hibiscus (Covergirl's Nature Lux line - which may now be defunct)
- Naked Gypsy (Kismet)

The funny part is I don't wear several of the colors; they just take up space on my counter. Naked Gypsy is too pale for my taste. Cabernet is weirdly dark and has a strange, thick, gritty texture. (My first clue I wouldn't like it should have been Gwyneth Paltrow as the Juice covergirl. Major disconnect for me. Not a Goop girl. I find Gwyneth quite out-of-touch with the real world.) The Stardust is a brand I don't buy and was a hand-me-down from my mother (she often receives freebies that are much too light for her Asiatic skin tones but work for the Russian/Irish paleness of my skin tone.) While Wildflower and Crushed Coral are brighter than my usual - they are American made and lovely. In truth, most days I grab one of the Pur Minerals or Burt's Bees and just do a quick swipe of color. I like that they are made with natural ingredients, easy to wear, and great colors.

But some days, I wonder if we aren't  - if I'm not - over complicating life. One of the beautiful things about La Gram Russe's 3 holder system is that it limited the number of morning decisions she had to make. (Much recent research has focused on our ability to make a limited number of decisions and that our best decision making happens in the morning.)  She didn't spend money frivolously on  extra options she wouldn't wear. And each of the choices was always "right" because she only kept 3 flattering shades. 

Take-away - It's your life and your choice. How simple or how complicated you make the choices are up to you. 

Photos by moi! (As usual, and you can tell.)

PS - I threw out the Cabernet and Naked Gypsy after taking this photo, despite the blow to my frugal soul. Down with clutter!

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PSS - for those of you who follow the comments in blogs, the awesome founder of Juice Beauty (Karen Behnke - who has a fantastic Michigan vibe)  reached out to me about trying a different Juice Beauty lip product. I'm currently loving the Photo-Pigments Luminous Lip Crayon in Zuma - texture is smooth and light while the color is present but subtle. (I see a purchase of Pebble in my future....) Because women ingest a scary amount of what they put ON their lips, you should always be as organic as possible with lip color. Juice Beauty fits that bill.

Other posts from me on self-care you might enjoy:

• Is it Kismet?
• The Eyes Have It
• Scents and Sensibility
• Scrubbed Up
• Scent and Memory 

Where did March go?

Books: And nothing for finished. I took another run at My Kind of Place but didn't finish. All books got packed and moved. That was an accomplishment! And 10 year old kidlet told me she approves of the addition of books to the space.

Gratitude: Patience, of others - I'm not at my most graceful during a change. Moving men who remove the unexpected bat. (Yep. Bat. The hazard of having a chimney apparently.)

Listening: The Fan-Dam-Tastic Marketing Show (so sad, no new episodes; apparently it ended in 2015. I also miss the Mystery Show),  Side Hustle School. And so much Pandora - I've got a channel called "Torch" that's all Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, etc.

Perfume:  A bit of everything.  Nothing. Vanilla Chai lotion from the Body Shop. Tunisian Jasmine Lime from Pacifica. (It's a fall-back standard - Guy likes it.) Mandarin Peony by Tulip. (Not overly fond of it. Wading through it. It's got no sillage at all. It lasts less than an hour.)  Modern Muse. (Finished it out.) Lucy B's Apothecary - Royal Green Fig + Vanilla Woods. A bit of Les Perfumes de Rosine Majalis on a few cold and rainy days. Pretty much just a total mix of whatever took my mood. 

Random: There is now a peacock within earshot of my new space, Bunny Haven Manor (Far North or On The Farm, undecided yet as which we shall call it.) 

Stress: Moving. Forever. I'm now on the "unpack one box every day" program to keep progress going and keep the stress down.

Watching: Fresh Off the Boat. Criminal Minds. And a lot of over-the-air TV as it was 3 weeks before the internet could be installed. (By provider number 2 after Frontier's Department of Delays called with a months long delay. I so wish I were kidding.) 

Take-away - Sometimes the best thing you can do is roll with it.

Original musings posts you may enjoy:

- Musings - February 2017
- Musings - January 2017

- Currently, October 2016

- Message in a Bottle (2016)

- Currently, July 2016

- Currently, June 2016

- Currently, May 2016

- Currently, April 2016

- Currently, March 2016

- Currently, February 2016

- Currently, January 2016

---As usual, pictures by me (unless cited otherwise) and you can tell!---

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Musings - February 2017

Books: Traveled this month! And so, on the plane I finished Not in Kansas Any More by Christine Wicker and started Broken Open by Elizabeth Lesser. (Oddly both were from 2005. Apparently I'm living in a time warp.) Also discovered a new Social Media app for me "Quotle" which lets you capture and share great quotes from books. 

Gratitude: Walks with kidlets and puppy. (He's a fan of being first to make sure there are no "dinosaurs" and that we are all very safe. It involves a lot of barking.) Quiet nights of planning the next move. Fun with friends. The gorgeous amenities of a luxury hotel for business. 

Listening: Radical Condor podcast, The Fan-Damn-Tastic Marketing Show podcast, Clients from Hell podcast and lots of The Pretty Reckless and Elle King. 

Perfume: I forgot my Library of Flowers  Kirimashi Air for travel! So I went without. But while I was actually at the event, I started using a small sample my mother gave me from La Gram Russe's collection, Modern Muse. 

Random: Fun! Went with Roxanne to a painting class one Sunday. There was wine and snacks. And using the same materials, we created completely different pieces. (Mine is the one on the pale background; hers is the one with the dark background.)  

Stress: Work stress - trip to Orlando for a few days. Fantastic room. Good trip. But out of town for days with the Herd in others' care. I missed them!

Watching: Emerald City. (Newest binge). Shadowhunters. (Apparently reading about magic makes me watch it.

Take-away - Enjoy where you are, even if it's not Kansas, because you may not ever be there again.

Original musings posts you may enjoy:

- Musings - January 2017

- Currently, October 2016

- Message in a Bottle (2016)
- Currently, July 2016
- Currently, June 2016
- Currently, May 2016
- Currently, April 2016
- Currently, March 2016
- Currently, February 2016
- Currently, January 2016

---As usual, pictures by me (unless cited otherwise) and you can tell!---


If you need some journaling prompters, you may like my book - 52 quotes with 3 journal questions paired to beautiful imagery. Seasonally grouped but you can start anywhere, anytime.

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Scrubbed up

Clean up on Aisle 5! I love soap. Seriously. Soapy Gnome. Old Forte Soap. Zum Bar. (The pound bag is my favorite indulgence but I'm never quite sure which scents I get!) If there were a reason for me to scrub up 6x a day, without completely drying out my skin - I'd do it. 

Washing my face is a close second. And I do like to try new skin stuff! Unfortunately, my skin is a little sensitive and a bit dry - so I need to be careful which things I try. Over the last 18 months, I've been trying lots of new skin cleansing combinations. (And we all know that although this is not a beauty blog, I'm a serial sharer!) I experiment most with my evening cleansing routine. For me, they can be split into two groups - cleansers and exfoliants. 

When cleansing, prep/make-up removal is important. For years my evening standard has been DHC Skincare's Deep Cleansing Oil. It's a highly purified olive oil. Cleansing and skin friendly. (Tip: if you decide to try supermarket olive oil - it works although it doesn't rinse as clean. But use the yellowest one. Green is too acidic and will sting the eyes.)  It lifts the make-up right off and rinses away. About 18 months ago, I tried Thesis Beauty's Rosemary Citrus Make-up Remover, which is jojoba oil-based. I enjoyed the scent and how it cleared off tough to remove mascara and lipstick. You do need a cleanser after to lift away the oily residue. 

After prep, next up is cleansing. The Thesis line includes a nice cleanser, the Tender as Petals cleanser. I tried. I love the gentleness of it - but somehow, my skin doesn't feel clean to me after using it. A toner helps. DHC Skincare's Face Wash Powder is my go-to standard. Papaya extract helps with gentle exfoliation. It is the slightest touch drying on my skin - a tightness around the eyes - so good moisturizer is required.

My skin enjoys being scuffed, as I like to call exfoliants. I use them most often as a supplement with quick cleansing options. For quick cleansing, I've been trying Alba's Hawaiian 3-in Clean Towelettes and Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water. The Alba towelettes are a great quick clean. I do find my skin is happier if I use an exfoliant the next morning; BareMinerals has a new one which is lovely - gentle and very effective. I like to use a combo of the micellar cleansing water followed by Thesis Beauty's Poppyseed Face Scrub, a toner, and then moisturizer. After which, my skin feels completely fresh and clean. The Poppyseed Face Scrub ingredients include clove which helps keep the skin clear. But I do find the micellar cleansing water a bit drying. I can't use it more than 2 days in a row. And, yes, I've tried it without the exfoliant - still drying.

(Mornings are much simpler. The Body Shop's Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash in the shower.)

In all truth, I think face cleansing is a self-care ritual. It's a good way to slow down the mind and set up the quiet of the evening. After washing my face, I tend to not engage with electronics. Washing my face is like a signal to my brain that it's time to rest.  

Take-away - Take care of yourself in the small ways. It matters.


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Photos by moi! (As usual and you can tell.) 

Other posts on self-care you might enjoy:

• Coming Clean
• Is it Kismet? 
• Scent and Memory 

Musings - January 2017

These musings used to be called "Currently, Month Year" - they've been re-named. But they are still just musings from the month. I hope you enjoy!

Books: I read things - light, easy reading -  over the holidays. It was lovely. Fiction paperbacks - Patricia Briggs' Alpha and Omega series - Hunting Ground, Fair Game, Dead Heat; Fire Touched from her Mercy Thompson series. Started Christine Wicker's non-fiction book on magic, Not in Kansas Anymore.

Gratitude: The year started with friends and wine. And an offer to go snowshoeing! (I'll report back in February). Small, thoughtful gifts from friends.  The roof over my head. Sweet pets. The curiosity of children. 

Listening: Good Life Project (podcast); Side Hustle School (podcast); The CoQuora Podcast and 5th Harmony's "Worth It" has been running through my head on repeat for days.....

IG from fav perfume house

Perfume: Sadly, Sencha Bleu No. 57 by TokyoMilk is gone. It was a huge hit with both me and the guy. Since I'm a perpetual tryer, it will be a while before it re-appears, perhaps during a spring. (I loved the scent. For me, the downside was the lack of sillage. Perhaps layering will help next time.) So, I've moved back to samples of a few things (Marble & Milkweed's line) as well as the mainstay of Les Perfumes de Rosine Majalis as I find it a perfect winter perfume. (Read more about my first encounter with  the warm, savory rose that is Majalis here.)

Random: This year brought a lot of changes and challenges. One was family.  There is one person in my family with a completely self-centered life outlook. It's my choice on how much I let that bother me and how much I choose to interact. I'm willing to accept the consequences of my choice to set boundaries, even if that means other people will choose not to be part of my life.

Stress: Don't the holidays just bring out the stress? (Or in my case, family) December is never my best month. Gifts that arrive late. Fending off the ridiculous expectations of others. More "things to do" than time. I hope you had time to take time for you - space and time to think and reflect to start your new year. 

Watching: The Blacklist (binged ALL of it on Netflix); The Magicians; and Bull.

Take-away - Sometimes change is the only constant and sometimes the constant won't change. How do you handle that which won't change?

Original musings posts you may enjoy:
- Currently, October 2016
- Message in a Bottle (2016)
- Currently, July 2016
- Currently, June 2016
- Currently, May 2016
- Currently, April 2016
- Currently, March 2016
- Currently, February 2016
- Currently, January 2016

---As usual, pictures by me (unless cited otherwise) and you can tell!---


If you like journaling, you may like my book - 52 weekly journal prompts with beautiful imagery. Seasonally grouped but you can start anywhere, anytime.

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A Garden in Winter

Winter is the time to plan for the next year. It's a space for dreaming.  I moved last year. And the new space was welcoming, but didn't readily lend itself to large scale gardening. Certainly not on the scale I like. It was adequate for a small space; having even a small garden enhanced my life and recipes. Given the mild weather, I was even able to harvest peppers until November! (Image left of the last of the garden.)

The garden - as noted -  was small but adequate. (Nothing like the years I had squash for days.) Oregano. Basil, two kinds. Peppers. Tomatoes, 4 or 5 kinds. (I had bigger pots on either side with garden tomatoes  - beefsteaks and romas - from a friend.) The herbs were what I used the most. But I enjoyed the peppers and cherry tomatoes on a pretty consistent basis.  (Picture below of the first harvest of the year.)

At the new Bunny Haven North, in addition to the garden, there were a very few flowers: daffodils to greet me, wild pink geraniums by the recycling bin, and potted pink geraniums by the door step. Other garden visitors came. The neighbor's cat - Bumblebee. Bunnies. A lone (unwelcome) opossum. Cottage white butterflies.

A garden is a bit of a sad, unwelcoming thing in winter. A small garden, somehow even more so. But, there is space enough  in winter to plan. I'm not planning for this space. I've decided it's time for a change and am looking at a new space. There are lilacs and irises at the new space. I've been told I can have a proper veggie garden and plant some flowers. I'm excited but a little nervous about yet another shift for me, for the herd - so far they have been very adaptable, so I hope this will be okay. I don't know, but I hope. Because that's what gardeners do. I'll be in the new space before the lilacs bloom.

Take - away -  Adaptability is an asset. Remember to use all your assets.


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***All photos by moi! And you can tell.

2017 Non-Resolutions

I do not make resolutions. They seem flimsy and easily circumvented.  Also boring. Instead,  for 2017, I'm making a list of 7 questions to ask myself about my choices today:

I don't know by who said it or made
this image. I do like it.

1. Did you eat more fresh food than processed?
2. Did you move with intention?
3. Did you sleep 7 hours or more?
4. Did you say thank you to someone?
5. Did you learn something new?
6. Did you try something that frightened you?
7. Did you do your best?

The hope, of course, is to say YES to all of them, every day. But most days, saying yes to 4 of them a day would be a victory that I'd be happy with.

Take-away - You can not control everything, but your choices shape your life. Make intentional choices.

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Lessons - 2016

Life is a continuing lesson. I'm reminded of that pretty often. I've taken, a few years ago, to jotting down lessons of specific importance or note as they happen in my life. I keep them in the Random section until the end of the year, and then share them.  Here are the lessons I learned in 2016.

1. All things are temporary.
2. Say more by speaking less. 
3. When you want more for you, it doesn't mean you want less for anyone else. And PS - there really is enough for everyone. (Side note: This is a refinement of item 2 for 2015.)
4. The past is just the past (Mary Chapin Carpenter); and it has nothing new to teach you, but why you left. Because people don't change. However, your changes are your choice.
5. Make your bed and clear the sink. It makes everything else in the day easier to tackle.
6. Get on the scale every other day. Accountability is critical in all endeavors.
7. Don't bite off more than you can chew. (Yes, that is a Mississauga Rattler trying to swallow a fat toad.) 

Take-away - You make choices everyday. Most of them small, insignificant things. But they add up. Be mindful of your choices.

Other posts you might enjoy:

• Lessons - 2015
• The Rules

Photos by moi - and as usual, you can tell. (It's a bouquet of store bought enhanced by home grown. The home grown came from La Gram Russe's yard this summer. We tried to have fresh flowers for her every week. She is why we all love flowers.)

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PS. In 2016 I spent some time created a book of journaling prompts for 52 weeks - each paired with inspired quotes and gorgeous images.  Then I created a small, free 7 day sample book. 

1) My Gift to You - Follow the image below to download the free book I created - a 7 day journey of 2 journal prompts per day with a thought provoking quote and black and white imagery - the whole book offering a guided journaling experience.

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2) The image below is another digital book I created - a year-long, start-anywhere, journaling prompts journey that pairs 52 inspiring quotes with gorgeous full-color images, each with 3 journaling prompts. 

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(Please note, this blog is free. Please - please - please - read and enjoy. Purchases of my digital books via Gumroad are both secure and final. Select wisely. If you aren't ready to purchase, please enjoy my free book or keep reading this blog.)

Color, A Random Post

I think about color more often than I should.  I love color. The richness. The endless variety. Blue will always be a favorite (I even have a book about the History of Blue).  Which means, of course, that I rather ravenously follow Pantone on Twitter. Did you know they tweet out a color of the day? It's almost life-changing*.

And in 2014, I had a theory about Pantone occur. I decided - based on the "evidence" - that the Pantone color team could viably be basing their choice for color of the year on the Chinese New Year. 

Currently, October 2016

Books: Nothing I didn't write. (Seriously. Ego centric and so true. Not just the books I wrote but old blog posts and journal entries. Trying to wrap my brain around various thoughts and feelings.) This maybe a sad year when I read less books than months in the year. Normally it's more on par with weeks of the year.

Gratitude: Electronic help - computers that connect everything to everything and everyone (don't we live in the best age???), home appliances that make jobs faster and easier. All the non-family friends who treat me like their family.

Happy: A corn maze + movie night with kidlets; friends who emote Good-bye Earl when needed; celebrations with friends; waterfalls by night; continued partner in crime excursions - usually involving alcohol -  with Roxanne (#GirlsPintOutMichiana); tiny adventures, including concerts with the guy - basically, we are acquiring a collection of bad selfies at various concerts. (Also, why isn't it called a maize maze? So much more fun....)

Perfume: Still Pacifica. Specifically, Tunisian Jasmine Lime. With occasional forays into Paper Flower by Love + Toast. Light, quick, fun and very wearable. (I get a heartnote of the rose with dewberry very quickly which stays well.) As the weather shifts to almost autumn, I've been reaching for Les Perfumes de Rosine Majalis. (Read more about my first encounter with Majalis here.)

Random: My obsession with soap is growing. I've gone long past Zum. (Hello, pound bag!) The Soapy Gnome trip a few months ago unleashed some kind of weird obsession. I'm now basically obsessed with getting my hands on a bar of Old Fort Soap, specifically Tobacco Flower.  (I did not buy it at a summer festival and have basically been obsessed ever since. The scent was fantastic!)

Stress: In August, La Gram Russe passed. There have been many family challenges as we worked through the funeral (Maria's Dream Funeral* - it was fairly pink and extremely Russian Orthodox), the additional services, the estate, etc. I have to remember kindness - for my own limited patience with their drama, for their emotional needs at this time, and - not the least - in dealing with people who made a choice long ago on how to see me. (Possibly I need one of those rubber band snapping habits to keep me focused when dealing with them.) As an imperfect human, I forget sometimes - and snap, much like a rubber band.

*PS - this is the source of the need for Good-bye Earl friends and outpouring of love from other friends. Some days love can be armor, especially against the slings and arrows of those who should love you and obviously don't understand the verb "love"  is a choice to accept  and support rather than attack. 

Take-away: Patience is precious. Are you any less worthy of patience than others? When you are patient with yourself, you have more patience for others.

Remnants of a celebration

Other posts you may enjoy:
- Message in a Bottle (2016)
- Currently, July 2016
- Currently, June 2016
- Currently, May 2016
- Currently, April 2016
- Currently, March 2016
- Currently, February 2016
- Currently, January 2016

---As usual, all pictures by me and you can tell!---


If you like journalling, you may like my book - 52 weekly journal prompts with beautiful imagery. Seasonally grouped but you can start anywhere, anytime.

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Follow my blog with Bloglovin  - A new way to follow!

New Space, New Garden, New Bunnies

You may have noticed among all the havoc and mayhem in my life that we moved.  We found a nice space with a yard for the dog, a bit of garden for me and enough green for yard bunnies. Tulips and daffodils greeted us - still trying despite neglect  - which told me it was home, for a while. A sunny spot with birds told Coco and Lulu it was home, for now. And the 3 of us told Rusty he was home, again.

It's a pretty, sunlit space. Nice arched spaces, wooden floors. Relatively quiet neighborhood. Near several co-workers, so instant location information. All in all, a good space in this transitional period of our life.


The getting here was bumpy. It took months to find somewhere suitable, at the right price point, that allowed pets. The move came at a bad time with too much work, and the beloved niece was ill. It felt so overwhelming. Boxes for days. Deciding what to do with all the relics of a life I don't have any more.

Like all things, slowly the strange became normal. The new normal is a house that needs Swiffered daily as the gorgeous wooden floors attract pet fur, a lawn that needs mowed every 4 days, bunnies that visit, and a bathroom with no air conditioning. The kitties like the wide windowsills and the birds that visit the windows. Rusty is delighted to be reunited with his kitties - even though Coco is the boss of the house. It's becoming our space. I added a few plants. Bright and happy geraniums to greet me as I drive up. A few tomato plants, a pepper, some herbs in a box with my ridiculous bird ornaments in the backyard. My favorite part of having a garden is being able to run out and add a bit of fresh, delicious flavor to whatever I'm making. Even a small herb box makes such a difference in my happiness. Plus such a delicious difference to my food!

Left is a little dessert I whipped up for friends: 
- Fresh Michigan peaches (3), diced
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons of fresh basil leaves (Thai globe)
Toss. Garnish with a touch more honey, cinnamon (to taste) and crushed walnuts.

This can be eaten fresh. It can be served over angel food cake, shortbread, vanilla ice cream or mango sorbet. (In our case, we took it to an outdoor music event - where serendipitously there was a food truck selling ice cream!)

The basil came out of the tiny herb-box garden. The peaches came from a roadside stand I pass on the way to work. The inspiration for the recipe came from my desire to waste not and use what's available. 

Take-away - Never forget the small things that bring you joy. Share them where possible.

Other posts you may enjoy:
- The Call of Home
- Winter Lights
- Avocado + Black Bean Salad
- Summer Bounty
- The Incredible Edible Egg

(Interested in more easy, tasty recipes? Check out In the Kitchen.) 

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