apres diem.

  After a less than successful day of doing nothing but working on music, Jason and I headed down to midtown for dinner with his sister and brother-in-law. "Hob Nob" is a restaurant owned by two Turkish brothers with quite the American menu. An interesting appetizer made with poutine and chicken gravy held our stomachs over until it was time for our meal. The sun falling caused the air to become brisk, but the choice to sit outside in the fresh air was perfect.
  Jason and I chose to get some warm drinks after dinner and it just so happened that a French cafe, "Apres Diem," was only a few blocks away. I enjoyed drinking my first hot chocolate of this cold season, sitting at a table with my boy. Just to add to the sweetness of my drink, my favorite flower, a gerber daisy, was in a small vase at every table. Strange techno and pop music came from all of the speakers, quite contrary to the mood of the cafe. Close to the end of the evening, a few guys arrived performing some smooth jazz music that made us wish we had arrived an hour later.
  It was a good evening. One that is needed. I feel like we were blessed with relaxation just not when it was expected. I have been learning more and more that life is more of the unexpected than the expected.

Currently Listening: "I Miss You" by Incubus

classy.

A perfect mix of classy, feminine and sophisticated. swoon.

Currently Listening: "Scottish Winds" by Frightened Rabbit

sleep.

  Everyone needs it. It either can be taken in small doses or large sums, but the need is inevitable. It was a morning that I wished I could have stayed enveloped in warm covers and dark silence. The alarm went off but pressing snooze twice only reminded me that class was in a little over an hour.
  Sometimes I wish I were one that could run on the littlest sleep possible. Maybe then my day would seem longer and I, potentially, could accomplish more. Every time my head hits the pillow I think of ten different things that I wanted to do but didn't. Of course, part of this diagnosis could be due to laziness or lack of ambition. I want every part of the day. Morning, noon, and night each serve their precious purpose. We rise with mercy and lie down with grace. Waking up early provides opportunity to run in the crisp air and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Staying up later means logs aflame in the fire place and a calm cup of tea with loved ones. Somewhat impossible to choose one or the other. Sleep gets in the way; without it we lose energy, but with it we lose time.
  Just some thoughts on the morning. This picture was what I was hoping to see or hear upon waking this morning.

Currently Listening: "Cicadas and Gulls" By Feist

balloons and bmw's.

All I can say is, these people got it right. They are so adorable and fun. The balloon idea was precious to make it look like he was flying away. A bit of silliness should always be welcomed on a wedding day. In addition to their creativity they chose the best car possible to drive away in, not to mention the "married" license plate. These folks did a wonderful job of showing personality and having a ball. I am so excited that I stumbled upon this story.

Currently Listening: "Caught a Long Wind" by Feist

project.

So this will be my next project. My first elbow patch sweater is nice, but I also think that the heart shapes are adorable. 

Currently Listening: "Girl with the Red Balloon" by The Civil Wars (Still saddened over the show on Sunday being cancelled.)

owl.

Showing off my new owl ring while sipping on a Monday morning cup of Waffle House coffee. Credit to my boy for the photo. 

Currently Listening: "All or Nothing" by Mutemath

lovely.

I want to make a quilt from all of these patterns. Yep.

concentration.

  Who knew that buckling down and finishing homework could take so much work. Honestly, there are so many things that I could be doing that I would enjoy. Not to mention the fact that people, the internet and thoughts whisk me off to my fairytale land of creativity. I realize more and more that this lack of discipline, or concentration, not only shows up in my school work but in many other areas of my life. Even the wonderful ideas I have of creating, painting, making music, etc. are set aside just for the excuse of wasting time. I want to be more diligent. As most anyone knows, this trait can only come with practice. I liken it to friendships. Although at this point in time there aren't many that I can compare this to, but it's true that you only get out what you put in. Our fulfillment of joy is only present when the reward of our efforts are seen. I want to complete a novel that I have been working on for months. I want to paint a canvas that I am pleased with and enjoy. I want to find the words to the melodies that float about in my mind daily. I could find a downfall of almost anything that I choose to do. What's hard is I know how much greater the hard work will feel once completed. I presume this is just another fight with flesh that we must overcome. Possibly more of a scheduled week would help with this problem. A solution is hiding somewhere. I'll find it.

Currently Listening: "Holocene" by Bon Iver

apple cider.

I have decided to try this spiced apple cider recipe. I hope it is super tasty because it looks delectable. recipe found on this wonderful blog.