Secret Garden

It's been a while since I've blogged about the ins and outs of my life.  I've been running around so much, it was nice to just take some time off yesterday.  While walking the gardens at the local art museum, I noticed the picnickers.  So many smiles, outbursts of laughter, and some quiet whispers ... where the eyes tell all.  I love that, when there is no need for the exchange of words, merely glances. 

The gardens are quietly beautiful and public, yet feel like my very own secret place to disappear.  I tend to forget exactly which city I'm in, a bonus.  I've been content lately, feeling more settled.  Not itching to run off to another city, except Paris (which looks like might happen this fall).  Or maybe Tuscany, just got an invitation today!

I saw Wolverine the other night, entertaining.  I don't care what those critics say.  I am dying to see the Star Trek movie, I'll watch anything by J. J. Abrams.  Last thing, I am smack in the middle of Breaking Dawn (got me listening to Debussy again) and attempting to stretch out this event.  It has been such a fun read.  So really, not much has been going on, besides dinners with friends, great conversations, long walks ... oh, just heard jingling from the ice cream truck ... how I love this season.  

Christian Dior

I simply adore all of these dresses for summer ... so fun and flirty. The first 3 paired with gold or pewter flat sandals, the last, strappy stilettos. Hair in beachy long loose waves or a casual high ponytail would be pretty. You can't help but take a second or third glance at any woman walking down the street in one of these.

John Galliano is on my list of top 5 designers. His love of femininity and decadence along with a twist of modern gave the House of Dior an amazing face-lift.

Wow, so pretty!

/images via New York magazine/

Lee Ledbetter

I love the use of windows and great proportion in this home ... of course nothing less would be expected from architect extraordinaire, Lee Ledbetter.

/images via Architectural Digest/

Designers Guild

There are few things I enjoy more than a beautifully dressed bed.  White linens for summer ... what a great place to daydream.

/Images via their site/

Paradigm Shift

From time to time, I let myself dwell on a woman who lives across the world.  She has no clue who I am.  I don't even know if she is still alive.  Her story is very close to my heart, a gift from God.  The nameless, faceless woman haunts me.  It is not because she scares me, but because I don't know if I could do what she does. 

Her daily task is walking miles to find something we all take for granted ... dirt.  Clean dirt as opposed to the toxic, waste-ridden kind she resides on.  She carries this clean dirt back home and sells it.  You see, there's a high demand for clean dirt in Kibera. Why?  Well, it's not to grow vegetables or to plant flowers. 

She sell the dirt to mothers ... who bring the dirt home and feed it to their children so tummies won't feel so hungry.  What else can a mother do to keep her child comfortable as she knows he/she will soon die of starvation? 

Self-entitlement is such an ugly thing.

Rainy Day

I love the rain ... especially if I'm lying in bed.  It has been gray and raining outside.  The house is quiet.  Almost too quiet.  Hmm ... what to do this summer?   I'd love to visit Montreal and go to the US Open (Flushing Meadows).  I am also drawing, and once it really warms up, I'll start painting again.  

One new thing I am so excited to dabble in is photography.  It's instantly gratifying, since I'm accustomed to things taking days or weeks to finish.    

Got a new app. on the iPhone, it's take pics that resemble Polaroids ... love technology.  Instantly capturing a mood, expression, moment in time and space is pretty cool.  

Latest Obsession

OMG ... why are these so hard to find?  The odds are against me tonight.

Hunter boots.