somepinkflowers

haiku my heart finds sanctuary

 

sooth, cool green Rome room.
thick walls quiet my new home,
butterflies stand guard...

~~~~~~~~~~~

for more haiku my heart
which takes you around the world,

please visit
recuerda mi corazon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

warning, warning, warning!

one little carry on

Plus one camera case.
Yippee!

 

tourist tuesday and my stay in the medina pavilion at peacock pavilions

From my library's dormer window I see five grey squirrels scampering up the oak trees in the front yard. They seem busy  and filled with earnest purpose.

It is April in north Florida and some serious squirrel*nest building is going on in a location Up High.

Serious house*nest cleaning and re-organization is going on inside my home, too. 

My spring cleaning happens like clock~work every April as I prepare to fly the coop in May for my vacation.

I want everything spiffy before I leave town. If my plane goes down and I end up LOST on some deserted island, I want my family & crew to find a clean place to gather whilst awaiting my return.

:-)

May is the best month to be in FLorida if the wild fires have not yet gone raging mad.

I know, I know.

Why do I leave my home just when plants are staring to green up, before Mr. Humidity moves in & smothers the entire state and before Hurricane Season sneaks in with all her windy baggage?

I paint such a fine picture of Florida one can not WAIT to visit!

May is the best time to be most any place on the map as far as I am concerned.

Hotels have been spruced up for the season, students are not clogging the beaches and airplane fares have not sky-rocketed through the roof, waiting as they usually do for June.

Last May it took me over 36 hours to travel from my front door in Florida to the front door of Peacock Pavilion in Marrakesh.

I arrived in the middle of the night, delivered by a polite young driver from the airport, to find Maryam & others waiting up for me.

Maryam & I both started our blogs in August of 2006. I followed her straight away as she & her handsome, architect husband Chris Redecke built their dream~come~true home in Peacock Pavilion.

I looonged to travel to this place, to look up into the grand domed ceilings of the salons, but saw no way for it to happen logically.

I sent these encouraging words in an email to Maryam in 2007 when delays were plaguing the completion date of Peacock Pavilion {{ I only last week  rediscovered the message saved in the Wrong Folder on my Old Computer. Go figure! }}

""I am a BIG believer

that we each move toward our Dominate Thought,

and that we draw things to us in this fashion.""

Why, I had no idea!
Peacock Pavilion must have become a Dominate Thought for me...

Peacock Pavilion is divided into several stand~alone buildings.

When I made my journey to Marrakesh last May, one might say it actually took me 4+ years to get there, I ended up staying in the very room I had imagined all along as being mine in the Medina Pavilion.

I love how these things happen, don't you?

The photos I share with you here are of the Medina Pavilion taken by me last spring.

Clearly, Maryam's eye for Morocan design detail is above reproach.

Perhaps you have seen photos of Peacock Pavilion on other blogs as it has become THE travel destination of many who seek yoga and art retreats of the highest quality.

While the top-notch B&B accommodations and exotic location are beyond stellar, the cuisine is the best you will find anywhere in the world. Many of  the fresh herbs & vegetables are grown on the grounds.

Yes.
It is here you will find Charming Luxury in Marrakesh.

At these risk of sounding like a advert, I have to share this news with you.

If you enjoy the photos here, you might enjoy Maryam's new book, Marrakesh By Design,  which will be available in the states on May 1st.

I have pre~ordered mine on Amazon.com.

Hopefully my copy will be waiting for me when I return from my vacation in June.

What is your Dominate Thought, travel*wize?

over on the island

Over on the island things have been hopping for days & days.

Chilly waves to jump, busy beaches to walk, lonesome shells to rescue.

And that was only during the day*time...

At night the island was swinging Big Time with

• The Moody Blues
• Bill Clinton
• Tony Bennett
• Lyle Lovett
• John Hiatt

I know you are thinking:  I did not know President Clinton had a band!

But, no, Clinton spoke of global issues such as how the current trend toward expansion is not sustainable & how we All can make a difference. He spoke on Civil Rights, literacy, water issues in China and other concerns facing our spinning planet.

He spoke with a voice strong & true.

Do not get me wrong.

President Clinton & I have not always seen eye-to-eye on Certain Things but maybe age has mellowed us both, as it is apt to do. There is no denying his accomplishments. There is no pushing aside his infectious optimism.

So much dreaming in the sun & so much dancing to the music for one Spring Break. Remembering the past, planning for the future.

Needing another break, I bought these fine little roses & headed on home.

Always, always it is about Time & Natural Forces.

 

tourist tuesday goes back in time

Quickly, quickly take my hand.
We are going back in time!

Think sweet*granny historical thoughts
& mind the stairs as we go up...

Treasures hidden under mother's old bedside table.
I bet you want to look inside.

Maybe another day...

Turn left at the faded tulips which have seen a better day...

White  Cockatoo stands guard over precious water stained wood...

Willetta's purse hangs on the wall with a secret inside.
I bet you want to look inside.

Maybe another day...

Window to the World via London souvenir from 40+ years ago.
Big Ben chimes here on the hour.

My daddy's crossword puzzle dictionaries and reference, pages marked...

What story in the stamp guide?
Faded illustrations from a country no longer on the map.
I bet you want to look inside.

Maybe another day...

A wee,white-throated bird who longed to see his family left his pink cage & skipped town.

He flew plum out the Window to the World, leaving an email address with White  Cockatoo.

Did he fly to London? Italy? Madrid?

We will never know as White  Cockatoo is the strong silent type.

Well, that story is as old as the hills.
Remember, we turned the corner and are back in time.

You can rest a while, beside my grand-father's straw hat which was tailored specifically for him back in the day.

{{ No one can find you back in time. }}

Then click here when completely refreshed & you will be returned safely home. Maybe.  Until next time. ♥

haiku my heart with history

joan of arc heard them
voices deep inside her head
& so she saved france

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~for more delicious haiku my heart
with
recuerda mi corazon,
please, pop in over here~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

{{  recently finished reading this book
and enjoyed it tremendously... who knew?   }}

 

tourist tuesday and the natural history museum, london

Quickly, quickly come with me down Cromwell Road.

Imagine you are the great, great, grand niece of Audubon, or the far but fond cousin of Darwin.

Mind the small ones as we field*trip over here!

Fair warning:  If birds in cages give you grief, turn back!

Whilst we are not visiting all 90 million specimens housed at the Natural History Museum, remember this is no zoo.

Embrace the scientist that is in your heart and walk with me through the Bird Wing of the Museum.

The Bird Wing!

I know, I know!
But it is here that we learn to call the bits & pieces by their name.

Crissum.
Rectrices.

We look eye-to-eye with wondrous creatures from the past.

We get up-close-and personal with the everyday.

We watch future Audubons at work.

Maybe this one cannot travel to the jungles of Africa to capture her subject.
{{ Her water smuggled inside a recycled plastic bottle unless she paints with apple juice. }}

Here is the cousin of the ones that mate under the full moon near my own bedroom window.

Even in this state, the feathers call to me to touch.

Behind glass they perch and soar. They waddle and list.

I image that if I worked in London I would want to work here.

Unless, maybe, I could obtain a dream*job dressing windows down the road over here.

This place is a Noah's ark of dead things, I know.

Still I am drawn here time and time again.

It is here I think upon the poor dodo.

Also, I worry about the species that are disappearing even as I type this word.

Some birds I have at home but here they let me openly adore.

Another artist hard at play. This one with colored pencil.

I imagine how he spends his day.
Sitting in his own chair brought from home.
Coloring.

"On my way to draw the owls, dear!" he shouts out to his wife as she weeds her garden. Or maybe she is over at Hyde Park sketching the fresh & tall digitalis.

Down the hall school children are laughing.

But, here, now, there is the quietness of respect.

Always remember to look up and down the hall.
Here we could see everything, if only we had time.

I leave you with the blue-winged kookburra and dreams of northern Austrailia.

Diversity!
I am so in love with it.

 

haiku my heart is out there

within reach, so sit.
look up, then out, over there:
sea, then Africa!

~~~for more delicious haiku my heart
with
recuerda mi corazon,
please pop in over here ~~~

tourist tuesday and nights of lights in st. augustine, florida

Standing on the south rim of the Grand Canyon, Nikon in hand, I snapped nothing.

With colors rich and vistas wide the Grand Canyon overpowered me.
I put my camera away.

I am ashamed to say I bought postcards instead.

That was years ago before I learned my camera lessons.

Now I would capture the rocks at my feet if nothing else.

The first time I saw the Mona Lisa I was shocked.
So small and  crowd~surrounded was she!

I took photos of the feet of the people pushing closer to get nearer.

Shoes so different from one another.
Shoes seeming more approachable, more manageable than the Mona Lisa.

I focused on the details I could handle.

Yes.
I have better learned my camera lessons.

Always, always it is about the light.

About the details.

About looking up.

I love the Nights of Lights in my St. Augustine town.

Two million bright~white bulbs shining from November 19- January 31.

Plum magical, indeed!

I bet you have them in your town, too. These holiday light displays.

Here every one gets into the act as if by royal decree.

Our lights are not as vast as the Grand Canyon.
Not quite as well-known as the Mona Lisa.

But if you come to St. Augustine some holiday season and meander about as the sun goes down-- quickly and completely--you will not be disappointed.

Peak in small shop windows, midsized museums and grand hotels.

Look for the lights tracing the edges of old churches and street signs.

Search for the lights escaping through glass windows and doors.

Always, always look up.

Always, always look down.
Don't miss a thing!

If you go here you will see I am not the only one who loves these Nights of Lights.

Let me know when you get to town.

For only one amaretto sour I will gladly be your enthusiastic guide.

If you can find me...
If  I am not already out capturing the light...
{{ Best call ahead. }}

 

haiku my heart in morocco

 medina merchant:
"american princess buy?"
{{ marrakesh lingers }}

 

~~~for more delicious haiku my heart
with
recuerda mi corazon,
please do pop in here ~~~

tourist tuesday and notre-dame cathedral, paris

How is your neck doing these days? Loose, limber & able?

I ask because I have been doing TONS of looking up lately and there may be repercussions.

I bought my iPhone a new app for Christmas!
It is called Star Walk.

For $1.99 I bought the entire universe which in my book seems quite the bargain.

Naturally, because Star Walk is So Amazing, I have been pushing it on {{boring}} all my friends.

I think they are starting to hide when they see me coming at them.

My cell clutched in my right hand whilst wearing a dreamy expression on my glowing face can only mean One Thing these days.

"You have to look at this!" I insist.

I flap the phone skyward waving it to beat the band, stirring up the GPS until all manner of stars pop up gleaming.

New~agey music plays softly through the teeny speakers.
I am such a sucker for ambiance! Supernovae dancing!

"Just look at that!" I say thrusting my turquoise phone under a captured glance.

I easily share the entire universe I have come to own.
That is just how I am.
I would gladly give you the world and now with Star Walk I can.

"I bet you think that is a star, don't you, " I point to a wee golden dot pulsating on my phone screen and then to its matching actual twin in the dark sky over our heads.  

"... but it is not!"

I try to pause for effect but so jOyous am I, timing is now NOT my strong suit.

"That glow is actually Koronas-Foton which is an orbital observation satellite sent up by the Russians in 2009!"

I am rewarded with the glazed eyes of the missing~in~action.

Clearly my friend has better things on her mind like, say, her grocery list.

Difficult for Koronas-Foton to compete with eggs and bread and cheese.

As I mentioned the other day, several of my friends have been selecting powerful words to guide them through 2012.

This one wisely chose the short but sturdy word:  UP.

UP is everything, really.

UP is the best way to feel.

UP is the sky overhead with Koronas-Foton, whether we care about it or not.

Every where I go folks are looking UP for one reason or another.

Thank goodness.

If you should find yourself at any point in your life in Notre~Dame Cathedral, take a seat and look UP.

When your are in Notre~Dame you are at the very center of France from which all distances are measured.

Look around, too, while you are there, but do look UP.

The outside of Notre~Dame is a wonder, too. The facade is amazing. There are few things I enjoy more in life than a well~placed flying buttress.

I could walk around Notre~Dame all the day long and shoot 1000 photos. 

Mr. Boredom would never even show his face.

Well, I say that because I have done.

Today we are just sitting here inside Notre~Dame where it is warm and people~filled.

Always, always it is about the light, isn't it?

Light shining in and out and UP...

Glowing faces in candle light.
Faces looking down and out and Up.

Today I give you Notre~Dame and candles and Koronas-Foton and UP.

2012 is going to be such a time of sharing!

haiku my heart loves a virgin a day, part 2

plastic flower love,
behind rusted window bars,
Your peace still shines on...

over here we honor the madonna--
as an offering of beauty & light--
during the first 12 days of december.

i hope you have a moment to visit a few...

a virgin a day and johnny depp

I watched this movie for the 3rd time this week-end.

Not because it is my favorite movie but because I had the DVD checked out from the library when I sprained my toe at a Christmas party last week-end but that is another story.

Whilst I sat with toe propped high and packed with a small, unopened bag of frozen baby English peas I needed comic relief of the Johnny Depp kind.

Could he BE any cuter running around the red-tiled roof tops of Venice wearing blue-striped pajamas? I think not.

Anyhoo, Angelina Jolie aside, the most glam star of the movie is clearly Venice.

I love Venice.
Who does not love Venice?
To love Venice is to love life in all its aging-and-no-one-is-getting-any-younger-over-here glory.

Nothing decays quite as well as watery Venice.

Standing proudly over the city is the watchful dome eye of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salut, built to honor St. Mary the Saint of Health and Salvation. Perched over the entryway arch is Mother Mary, as seen in my photo above. 

It is here where I spent my coins lighting candles and making deals with God for the Good Health of all those I love.

I bet you do the same thing, somewhere...

BTW, no one I love has yet come down with a case of the plague.

If you go here you will see more Madonnas housed inside the Basilica. They will take away your breath and then give it back to you refreshed.

I would never lie to you.
Well, I would never lie to you about Mother Mary.

~~~~~~~

Meanwhile over here we honor The Madonna--
as an offering of beauty & light--
during the first 12 days of December.

I hope you have a moment to visit a few...

haiku my heart loves a virgin a day

mother mary knows,
in rome i turn catholic...
{{ we laugh about it }}

over here we honor the madonna--
as an offering of beauty & light--
during the first 12 days of december.

i hope you have a moment to visit a few...

tourist tuesday and a stroll in essaouira, morocco

You know I would take you everywhere I go if only I could.

Especially I would take you to the seaside towns.

Sights are strange yet oddly reminiscent
as there are universal truths found in every seaside town I have ever visited.

Bikes gently resting against a tree or wall...

A gallery that lures you in to shop...

A lush and secret garden...

A sign impossible to read...

A sign that look rather familiar...

Every where people are selling fabric and spices as the ocean is the Commerce Highway International.

Lovely things desired.

The ubiqitous bike posed at the ready;
the ever-present kitten longing to pounce.

Colors that smooth & sooth the heart.

I travel to remind myself I am only one small being in the big wide world.

I travel to learn appreciation of differences.

I try to remember to look up.

Palm trees vary only slightly around the world.
They all speak the same language of tropical swaying.
Each dreams of a moonlit night.

People at work are the same.
Getting things done whilst I meander about taking their photo.

I wonder what they think when they see me?

""Here comes another crazy American girl who is snap~happy with her camera.""

In almost every seaside town I find a bar that plays his music.

In Venice, Barcelona, Miami there he is...

A certain rhythmic beat rides the ocean waves to shore and will not be stopped.

Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Adriatic.
Not one sea seems to wear Marley*immunity.

Maybe the music floats in on seaweed.
I have no idea.

Sights are strange yet oddly reminiscent
as there are universal truths found in every seaside town I have ever visited.

Lazy bikes leaning, a reggae beat waffling up and out of side alley and always, always a gull standing guard nearby.

While most travel stirs me up, a seaside towns whispers home.

i will grab the little blue bucket...

Quick, quick! Go grab your yellow hoodie!
We are off to the beach...

I have promised an angel wing to this one so do come with me to look.

I will grab the little blue bucket just in case our luck holds true.

Do be careful where you walk.
You best look down Now
to see the closest thing I will see to snow this year.

Sugary beach sand which, when dry, goes crunch crunch under our feet...

Yes.
Do be careful where you walk.
Ghost crabs help keep the beach neat~o and tidy from organic debris of the dead animal kind.

Ghost crabs and my sea gull friends help keep our beach in order.

Can you see the Proud Ladies sitting on the dune?
Some have been holding court right there for my entire life.

Thank goodness!

Even though I do hold some influence with the sea
today there are no angel wings.

Aren't we glad there is always Another Day.

Today we will take home some lovely beach sand
~~a wee bit~~
for One of My Little Art Projects.

Breath deep the salty air!
Let the salty air flow gently but with purpose into your nose
to keep your head clear & your body healthy.
Let the salty air flow smoothly into your heart
so you will come back here
with me.

Now give a wave to the sea. Go ahead. Wave.

Always, always give a wave to the sea
as she will always, always give a wave back to you.

 

tourist tuesday and a first meal out, marrakesh

Has this ever happened to you?

You are eating out in a Exotic Location...

with Brand~New Acquaintances from all around the world.

After consuming more spicy olives in 10 minutes
than you have eaten since This British Invasion...

a yummy plate of couscous & veggies is set down gently
before your very eyes.

All around you hands are flying.

Even the H2O looks exotic through your Blogging~Girl Vision.

More than anything in The Universe
you Long to pull out your wee Nikon and *snap away* left and right.

Your GreatestDesire is to capture images
of the colorful, steaming food and record it For All Time.

Before you even take one delicious bite
~~you pause~~
for Your Manners to catch up with your hunger.

Is it the Ultimate of Blogging Politeness
to wait for everyone to pull out their camera
and *snap away* before delving into your meal?

Has this ever happened to you?

 

haiku my heart away from home

a symbol of love
i climb her hard stairs alone
my tears speak in french

 

{{ for more haiku my heart travel here }}

tourist tuesday and my art~crush on the willow man, london

At first glance he lifted me up and plopped me down into Alice~in~Wonderland.

I felt wee~small and the air was charged with magical pink vibes.

When I awoke that morning I had been clueless to this day's discovery.

I took a leisurely cruise to a favorite destination only to find towering alien seedpods.

I was smitten.
Smack~dab smitten.

Yes, yes, yes.
I was smitten with Tom Hare, a willow weaver of the first~court!

I wish you could have been there with me for truly this guy is an art genius.

From his sketches grow poppy seed pods of a towering height all along the English country side.

Lotus seed pods, poppy seed pods and other HUGE seed pod installations  graced the lawn just inside the entryway of The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.

All are part of  the ongoing celebration of  The Millennium Seed Banks Collection which you could read about over here if you are so inclined and have the time.

Me?
Well, I love the idea of seeds stored properly for All Time but I am more enchanted by the woven willows as they stand here.

I could not understand how folks could waltz on by these Tom Hare creations and not be mesmerized.

Perhaps they lack the keen eye of the experience observer which I do possess, or rather, which does possess me.

I wanted to reach over and touch the giant pods BUT I DID NOT.

I wanted to pick one up and walk out with it BUT I DID NOT.

Instead, I brought these photos back to share with you.

I dreamed deeply of planting willows along the creek bed behind my house in Florida.

I dreamed of growing willows and weaving them into seed pods of gigantic proportions.

Mostly I dreamed of all my friends falling in love with Tom Hare's art, too.

Know this--->
I would pick you up and set you down inside all my adventures if only I could.