Tongue in Cheek

Life among the Ruins

The still life

remains in *Pompeii, 

the loud silence cries out, the song is heard on the stones with pastel colors that could not be destroyed with time nor hot ash.

Waves of beauty rush by in the forms of columns perfectly intact rising upward forcefully refusing to crash.

Carved stone with delicate designed flowers fool one to believe that there is perfume in the air and soon a maiden will come by and gather them. Waves rush by as if life should be there, at every corner one is fooled. Silence sings with notes sharp and clear, hushed and soft.

Life buried undiscovered for centuries does not mean it is dead. Just like our secret desires living within us refuse to be buried alive.

What desire of yours longs to be unearthed?

* The first stop on our cruise: Pompeii, Italy- A 6th century town covered in ash by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Bits and Pieces

These last two weeks I have been on a cruise with my family. Nearly everyday we stopped at a different port venturing into the landscape of amazing countries--places called Pompeii, Cairo, Cyprus, Rhodes, Tripoli and Rome...

The stunning beauty of art and history, faces, culture, music, the taste of exotic foods, the roaring sea, the wind, rain and sun, like bits of mosaic tiles put together forming a tangible glimpse of the world's heart. The varied elements of our journey gave ideas that beat richly and deeply within me. I am swirling in my memories; the textured colors that certainly will shape the design of my soul!

Each color in the mosaic is worthy, each shape needed to form the larger picture, nothing is without a purpose. I am called to remember that life is made up of many pieces...

I stand in awe of it!

*Roman Mosic (from Kos) inside the Palace of the Grandmaster, Rhodes

Heaven on Earth

When in Rome do what the Romans do.

When an American who live in France goes to Venice she does, What the Italians do; Eat Pasta! And live the art!

Adam and Eve hanging out at the Plaza de San Marco.

Life is for living and loving!

La vita è Bella!

Life is Beautiful!

La vie est Belle!

French Husband and American Wife

A blessed thing it is

for any man or woman to have a friend,

one human soul whom we can trust utterly,

who knows the best and worst of us,

and who loves us in spite of all our faults. -

Charles Kingsley

Last summer while standing on my favorite place on earth.

In the arms of the one I love.

Deeply happy.

Westport Northern California.

Photo taken by our daughter Chelsea.

Rosette Mantra

Wooden rosace planted firmly on a church door. Worn smooth are the edges from the many hands of prayer, that have touched it to enter in...

*Dance in the darkness

slow be the pace

surrender to the rhythm

of redeeming grace.*

In the garden of your soul, plant seeds that can nourish it. For all things take time... the petals of this rosette have changed, though the scent remains the same.

Vintage Perfume Pretender

A Flask for Liquor dressed up as a perfume bottle.

Standing tall in front of an 18th century boutis en bleu.

Poured out the whiskey and in its place I poured rose oil from Egypt.

Adding charming to the neck is laced one crystal from a chandelier, some lavender beads, and several venetian glass flowers.

Beats plastic and whiskey.

French Postage Stamps and love letters

1. 

Vintage French Postage Stamps

This person, like me, must have lived far from home too ! (S)he must have gently removed the collected stamps from the many letters received, and attached them to this box. Inside, the stamped covered box, are notes neatly folded and hand written. It reminds me of someone's heart, holding received love (letters) from another....

Antique Doll

How many hours spent playing, pretending and being happy, did this doll give?

How many times did the child's Mother pick up the little toys and put them a way with care?

And now her life scattered all about on the table for everyone to see. Missing legs, no hair, and no two shoes alike. A collections of socks and glass eyes, an umbrella, a cash register and some empty grocery boxes is all that is left. Waiting for a new playmate who will accept her on  her terms.

Eight Ball

Hustler: A hustler is someone who goes into a pool bar pretending not to know how to play, finds some losers who aren't pretending, and then tries to trick the losers into betting huge amounts of money on a pool game. A hustler will miss easy shots on purpose during a low-stakes game, and then when the losers offer to bet big money on another game, the hustler will "miraculously" pocket the ball and take the losers' money.

Antique Dealers are never like this.

Buyers are never like this either.

*vintage pool balls, could they be 1950s or older? Or new? I asked the dealer. He said to me,"Do you play pool?" I answered no. I knew I had lost the game of bartering.

For John Biale

Pressed between the pages of an old book

a name

a flower

and forgotten words.

Pressed within my heart

you are

and I will never be the same.

First love, one day we will bloom again in the same garden creating a magnificent bouquet!

Sunday Scribblings First Love