down the rabbit hole...

Recently I've been using the term "down the rabbit hole..." a lot.  My new addiction, Pinterest, takes me down the rabbit hole again and again.  I've discovered countless new things...

Remember Alice?  When I was growing up, we had this amazing multi disc collection of Lewis Carroll’s Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.  I would listen to it over and over, and though I read the written works, the images conjured by those recordings, are so vivid, they still come flooding back.  Alice is a well known literary heroine.  Carroll’s words have become standards.  “Wonderland” is used to refer to a fantastic, magical place. “Curiouser and curiouser” is a phrase we use to qualify a strange, odd or extraordinary event.  And “down the rabbit hole” is used to describe an adventure into the unknown. 

illustration by John Tenniel
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll 1866

For the past several months, Pinterest has been my new adventure into the unknown.  If you don’t know about Pinterest, you must visit the site http://pinterest.com/and request an invitation!  It is truly an adventure!  I often feel as if I’ve gone “down the rabbit hole” when I delve into the multiple layers of Pinterest.  I find an image I like and click on it.  It enlarges and shows the link to the site from which the image was posted.  

Pinned from kchataigne.blogspot.com

I click on the link and I am on my way.  I’ve had the greatest time exploring blogs and websites.  The new discoveries I make and the places they take me are galvanizing my creativity.  My love for design is a passion I’d neglected!  And as a direct result, Margo and I have created Persnickety.  Have you discovered Pinterest?  I am having so much fun pinning.  I try to come up with clever names for my boards... some people might not get it, but it's a blast for me.

Clean bed...

If there is any truly simple pleasure, it is getting into a fresh, clean bed.  I know you know what I mean.  This morning I stripped the bed and changed the linens and was filled with the sense of happiness and contentment of knowing that at the end of my day, clean bed was awaiting me.  

via my hipstamatic...

And don't think for a minute that I take my bed and bedding for granted.  I am grateful for what I have.  I could be sleeping on a floor somewhere, or on dirt in a tent.  Mine is a bed of luxury.  There is the feather bed, the base of any good, fluffy bed.  The linens?  I prefer Bella Notte linens http://www.bellanottelinens.com/.  Their lush fabrics and colors have me spoiled.  If you are lucky enough to live near Marin County, you should seek out their warehouse (open Friday and Saturday mornings).  My favorites are the bamboo sheets and the silk velvet accessories.  I even gave bamboo sheet sets for Christmas presents last year!

luscious chocolate

Chocolate, white and petal (pink) are the colors I have the most of... I say that, because my weakness for these yummy linens has lead to a well stocked linen closet!  The bamboo sheets are a soft and creamy.

whisper white

crimson quilt and pouf

The crimson is the most heavenly deep color.  If you love reds, this is as perfect as a red can be.  The patchwork is beautiful and, did I mention, all of the fabrics are washable!

poufs of many colors

luxury patchwork

What is your bedding of choice?  Do you worry about thread count?  At the end of the day, do you tolerate your bed or do you relish in diving into the fluffy goodness?  Sweet dreams...

Gone to Carolina in My Mind...

This is a little bit I jotted down when my folks were with me over the holidays.

My dad is 75.  Thank God he’s healthy and active and I am blessed with the opportunity to enjoy time with him.

Tonight he is sitting, playing his guitar, learning James Taylor songs.

In my mind, I’m gone to Carolina…

I remember hours as a kid, sitting and listening to him singing.  Learning enchanting folk songs… Little boxes, Abiyoyo and of course, the Fox Went out on a Chilly Night.  We sang.  We learned Pete Seeger and other classics.  Moments to be bottled up and saved for a time you need an infusion of sweet memories.

My dad has recently rediscovered his love of the guitar.  So here we sit, harmonizing while he strums.  I’m more in love with James Taylor (if that’s possible) for giving us this moment in time.

He says goodnight you moonlight ladies,

Rock-a-bye sweet baby James,

Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose,

Won’t you let me go down in my dreams,

And rock-a-by sweet baby James.

http://thesoundprincess.com/2010/08/jt/

The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
Any fool can do it
There ain't nothing to it
Nobody knows how we got to
The top of the hill
But since we're on our way down
We might as well enjoy the ride

http://www.jamestaylor.com/guitarlessons/

Seems only right to pay homage to the man, the myth, the legend…  James Taylor’s website is beautiful and includes on line guitar lessons with James himself. 

Another fun site my dad discovered is Chordie.  If you are learning to play the guitar, Chordie is a great site that includes words and cords for many songs and allows the learner to transpose the song to different keys as preferred.  (http://www.chordie.com/)

the other sister.

i love that we are doing this, as it will keep me honest.
i love sharing things with my sister, she is awesome.
we call each other Swissie...that stands for Sweet-Sis.
we almost always have.
i love that too.

3 things i am thankful for today...

sarah's chicken noodle soup..
with handmade noodles by her 2 year old.

puffs tissue with lotion..
(how DO they DO that..)

my two year old.

not necessarily in that order.

happy '11 one & all.
all. that's '11 with an a.
xo

Three things...

2011.  A new year.  I am starting this blog, as a novice blogger, in tandem with my sister.  Every day may bring a different subject.  There will be repeats and there will be themes.  For starters, I am a critical care nurse and I love what I do.  So occasionally, you are likely to hear stories from the bedside.  More likely, you’ll read sentiments of gratefulness and gratitude.  My work consistently reminds that life is precious, short and to be enjoyed.

When I was in nursing school and things seemed challenging, my dear friend and roommate would turn to me and say, “quick, three things!”  This meant that I was to rattle off three things for which I was grateful.  It was our way of remembering to be positive and find the joy in our lives.  We live 1300 miles apart, so we do our three things via text.  Still works.  An instant reminder of what we have and how truly lucky we are.  Of course, the three things might change daily.  It’s usually the first three things you can come up with.  So on this, the first day of the New Year, I challenge you to find three things.  I woke up this morning and said mine out-loud. 

 I am grateful for my black lab Maggie.

photo shelley t.

 I am grateful for a great cup of coffee.

coffee courtesy of http://deliciouslyorganized.blogspot.com

I am grateful for the promise of the New Year.

photo courtesy of happiness is... @ http://shannoneileenblog.typepad.com/ 

Three things…