Day 366...

It's kind of bittersweet to be at the last post. kind of odd. kind of thrilling.

A big thank you to all of you who followed and read, encouraged, commented, emailed or otherwise messaged me through TIL...and a special thank you to Stephan Cox, for your most amazing cheerleading and faith in me! I'm ready for my next project to begin.

2013...I think you're going to be a very creative year.  

to close the year...the 2012 version of the blog that really started it all...(Thank you, Tanya Geisler)

Things I Love in 400 words...the 2012 edition:

my wonderful baby boy, aged 16 years, who makes me smile, laugh and beam with absolute glee at his wit, brilliance and all-around awesomeness…glittering snow on the ground, as though sequins were thrown atop a pristine, white billowing blanket…shockingly bright, nearly blinding winter moon peeking through bare tree branches…gentle reminders of my strength and resilience; my ability to bounce back; land on my feet…a really awesome dream that bounces around in my head and lingers all day -  making me smile…Orange. the colour. the fruit. the blossom…my favourite pair of jeans. comfortable. perfectly worn out…the blissful look on my sweet Stella’s face when she turns her little kitty head up and leans against my arm to fall asleep…my wonderful handful of books I am content to read over and over again…reasons to celebrate…Honeycomb Calcite… the giant windows at my office, where I can watch the snow fall and swirl; makes me feel like I am standing inside a snow globe… Tazo vanilla apricot tea…Port Aransas, Texas…eggnog lattes…lemon zest cheesecake swirled with apricot puree…friends who “know” when I need a hug…Layer Cake Shiraz…a long-awaited sneeze…writing, photography, creativity…the scent of lilac…Moroccan Rose essential oil…spending the whole day in my pajamas (every now and then) just because I can, just because I have nothing I have to do, and just because, sometimes, a day in the pj’s is exactly what is needed to rejuvenate oneself… homemade vanilla made with Maker’s Mark, Madagascar vanilla beans – and patience…a long walk on a crispy cold day…black-eyed peas (I have a ridiculous, perhaps obsessive, love for them)…standing at the bow of a ferry, pushing across the Puget Sound, cold wind whipping past my ears, hair flying in all directions, eyes closed, breathing deep, until my ears hurt and I have to go inside (I will stay outside for longer than I can stand, simply because this is one of my favourite things in the whole big wide world!)…life-long friends…winter coats – I’m a wee bit fanatical, perhaps – I have too many, and not nearly enough…Zanna, my tattoo artist, who is so incredibly talented and amazing, and who is happy to put the needle to my skin when I am craving some needle therapy…Rice Crispies with bananas…wind farms; majestically beautiful ultramodern sentinels; graceful behemoths…every one of my precious, wonderful friends and family; I’m the luckiest girl in the world…the kind of bliss that seems to bubble up from inside…

 

Happy New Year, friends! Have a lovely 2013. Thank you. 

Day 311...

Allow me to direct your attention...here.

Day 256...

Today I received my signed copy of Dead Birds Fall from the Sky - selected poems by Stephan Cox

I'm so thrilled!

Some of you know about my friend Stephan's Thing a Day project of 2011...Stephan collected his favourites from the year and turned that project into DBFftS.

Stephan, I'm so happy for you! I'm so proud of you!

Day 242...

I love that Stephan did this!

DEAD BIRDS FALL FROM THE SKY

so excited for him!

Day 107 - I love...Mallomars. and Lori.

so...about a week ago I got a mad craving for Mallomars.

My friend Lori's husband, Stephan, posted something about Better Cheddars on his Facebook page...which made me think about Mallomars...and I freaked right out.

Lori, being the amazing creature she is, quickly messaged me and told me to send her my address and she would send me Mallomars. because they are in New York. and they can get them. because Mallomars are really a New York thing. East Coast thing.

(I found them in Kentucky a few times many, many years ago on a spastic fluke.

I've never seen them since.

I stroll the grocery store aisles staring longingly at the Nabisco section...silently begging the Nabisco gods to send Mallomars once again.)

Lori messaged me a day later...she had to find my cookies in Connecticut.

When I arrived home from work tonight. sitting in the foyer was a nifty little parcel. I squealed. "Mallomars! There's more than one box in there!"

~grin~ She sent me two boxes of cookies! and a copy of her most recent novel "The Dirt," which she tried to send to me months ago, but it somehow got lost and redistributed and wound up in the hands of the younger sister of a fella we went to high school with. weird, but funny.  funnystrange, really.  which is perfect, because that's Lori's blog. (if you haven't checked it out, you should. now.)

so tonight. I am enjoying my cookies. my glorious marshmallow-y, dark chocolate-y, cookies. all the way from Connecticut.

yes, the box is open. I am enjoying my delicious cookies.

Day fifteen - I love...Inspiration

The inspiration for this daily project came from Stephan Cox, who decided to run a creative marathon in 2011 in an effort to jump-start his creativity and push his creative boundaries. I followed the Thing a Day Project nearly religiously, looked forward to every post this creative man would make, even got pulled into the race with a collaboration or two.

It was his project that made me first consider doing a daily project of my own, even as I battled through the almost overwhelming fear of committing to something that big. (well...coupled with the fact that he straight up said "Karen, you're doing this in 2012!" to which I replied, "I'd love to! but maybe I'll just do thing a week, or thing a month." but I knew that it was all or nothing. thing a week or thing a month was a cop-out. it was me finding excuses and if I was going to do this challenge, I was going to have to go for the whole gigantic enchilada.)

The second part of the inspiration for this daily came from Tanya Geisler when she posted this blog, which prompted me to post this one to my weekly writing prompt. and as 2012 crept closer, a little light went off in me head...and the project started coming together. of course, I procrastinated. I considered turfing the whole idea.

and then Stephan posted his final TAD on December 31st. And when I saw my name, a small voice said "do it, Karen." so I hurried over to blogger to get this thing rolling, took a deep breath, and got ready to run!

And the absolutely amazing thing? to me at least...I'm doing it! I'm sitting at my computer every day and posting something. It's not just a challenge of my level of commitment, it is a challenge to me as a writer - I've never been a write every day girl (and I totally should be!) It challenges me to look for the good in each day, to find something beautiful or happy-making.

and...it's totally worth it!