one day at innisfree / one day that's mine there

My notes from class: "Innisfree. Find it. Go there."

I once had a professor tell me that everybody needs their own Innisfree, whether it be a physical space you go to, or just a state of mind you can visit. Everybody needs that place Yeats describes where you can escape to and find peace. It's essential to life. Essential for the soul. And if you can hum that post title, don't bother searching too much more; you're probably already there.

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, 
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; 
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee, 
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

::

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

::

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree | W.B. Yeats

pinterest

i jumped on the pinterest crafting train and made this string art of my lovely state.

crafting is good for the soul.

with an 'e'

image found here.

"Anne came dancing home in the purple winter twilight 
across the snowy places."

L. M. Montgomery |  Anne of Green Gables

“Perhaps there is a spirit in books that lets them live beyond their actual bound bodies." - Jonathan Rosen

The 1880 edition of Edgar Allan's poems that I found today.*

Today while driving around the west side of my fair city, I stumbled upon a used bookstore that rivals my love affair with Sam Wellers. And while Sam Wellers is the end all of used bookstores, Ed's Editions now has the top spot  in that space of my heart reserved for used bookstores. Sorry Sam, you're just too far away now for any kind of relationship to continue.

And although you can't really tell from their website, Ed's is everything a used bookstore should be. It has the smell, the old bookshelves, the ancient leather-bound books that I want to grab by the armfuls regardless of whether or not I like it or what language it's in and take home. It's housed in this quaint old storefront that's probably been around as long as some of the books. Amazing double doors. Lots of little rooms at all different levels. I think that may actually be a requirement of good used bookstores - those little steps that take you from section to section. It is, in a word, perfect. I'm anticipating a long relationship of frequenting the place, so if you can't find me, 

you might try looking for me among the shelves.

*And now, thanks to Ed, I've got my eye on an early edition of the complete works of my good friend Shakie. So look out. I'm coming for you.

bluegrass

the other day i learned that yo yo ma is in a bluegrass band.

they did a little thing called the goat rodeo sessions.

watch the brilliance here.

house hunters

Don't you love how all the houses in England have names? Delightful names, at that. Watching House Hunters International makes me want to drop everything and move there. 

Because, honestly, who wouldn't want to live in a house like this?

source: churchods

Especially when it's named The Gate House on Walton-on-Thames.

All I'd have to do is learn to drive on the wrong side of the road. No big deal, right? 

the food.

Curse craving food that only exists in Provo.

Cafe Rio.

J-Dawgs.

Slab Pizza.

In-N-Out.

Communal.

If anyone out there wants to buy me something, put it in an ice-packed cooler and overnight it to me, it'd be greatly appreciated. Mean it. Really.

And ... the Duggars.

Today my good friend Candice and her husband came into town to spend the day playing around Columbia with me and Spencer. We went all over town and saw all the fun, unique, historic sights. Great food. Even greater company. Just one word for the day: magic. Oh, and the Duggars.

photo courtesy of my friend, candice's iPhone

We took Candice and Reid to see the state house and happened upon the remnants of the Rick Santorum rally. A midst dodging the crazies while walking around the grounds, we found ourselves at the Confederate flag. That's when we saw Jim Bob and Michelle. What the random? Naturally, we had to go say hello and take a picture. And I have to say that they are just as nice and sweet 

in person as they seem on the show. Really. 

The day ended with Cheerwine floats.

Like I said. Magic.

monday afternoon

 

this is what happens when my mom and i wait to pick up my brother from school

mellow mushroom

Today we ate at Mellow Mushroom in the Vista. I ordered the Kosmic Karma pizza, which is a delightful combination of feta cheese, pesto, spinach, and roma tomatoes. 

The waitress brought it to me and explained that there was a hole in my pizza:

see the hole? no big deal, right?

Before I could even get it out of my mouth that it was okay and I wasn't worried about it, the waitress explained that they were already making me another pizza that I would get to keep on top of this "faulty" one. And that's how I ended up with an entire 2nd pizza today for free.

first book of the new year

image via amazon.com

 

 

This is the first book I've finished so far this year. It's a fantastic read. I could not put the book down.  Donoghue's choice of narrator was impeccable. It was on the NYT list of best books of 2010. And rightfully so. Put it on your reading list for the year.

"an overwhelming love lightens our being. we know, and are."

The hubs got me this CD for Christmas. It's a new recording by the London Philharmonic, dubbed by NPR to be one of the best recordings of Mahler 2 ever. It is. 83 minutes of pure beauty.

"On wings which I have won for myself, in love's fierce striving, I shall soar."